Per/polyfluoroalkyl substances production, applications and environmental impacts.
Raveena Dhore1, Ganti S Murthy1
1Discipline of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology-Indore, Khandwa Road, Simrol, Indore, Madhya Pradesh 453552, India.
Bioresource Technology
|August 29, 2021
Summary
Per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants. This review covers PFAS production, applications, detection, and remediation challenges, highlighting the need for improved methods, especially for short-chain variants.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Chemistry
- Toxicology
Background:
- Per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used industrial chemicals known for their persistence.
- Their production spans nearly a century via electrochemical fluorination and relomerization.
- Unique properties like chemical resistance and hydrophobicity contribute to their environmental persistence, earning them the moniker 'forever chemicals'.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the production and applications of PFAS.
- To discuss methods for determining PFAS concentrations in environmental and biological samples.
- To evaluate current and needed advancements in PFAS degradation and detection technologies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of PFAS production, applications, and environmental fate.
- Analysis of existing detection methodologies for PFAS in various matrices.
- Assessment of current remediation technologies and their limitations.
Main Results:
- PFAS possess valuable industrial properties but are environmentally persistent.
- Detection methods exist, but in-situ detection technologies are nascent.
- Current remediation strategies are often costly and inefficient.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need for developing novel, cost-effective remediation technologies for PFAS.
- Advancements in in-situ detection methods are essential for effective environmental monitoring.
- Future research must prioritize methods for detecting short-chain PFAS due to their increasing use.
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