Advanced oxidation processes may transform unknown PFAS in groundwater into known products
Mahmut S Ersan1, Bo Wang2, Michael S Wong2
1Department of Civil Engineering, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA; School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-5306, USA; Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment, Arizona State University, USA.
Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) can remove some Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), but may convert unknown PFAS into detectable ones, increasing total PFAS levels. Adsorbable organic fluorine (AOF) analysis is recommended for AOP treatment evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Water Treatment Technologies
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent contaminants in aquatic environments.
- Previous studies on PFAS degradation by advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) may be flawed due to unanalyzed PFAS.
- Real-world water matrices contain undetected or unknown PFAS that can interfere with treatment assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To screen various AOPs and photocatalysts for PFAS removal in a pilot system.
- To evaluate the transformation of non-detected/unknown PFAS into known compounds during AOP treatment.
- To assess the impact of these transformations on total PFAS concentrations in drinking water sources.
Main Methods:
- Pilot-scale testing of AOPs including UV, UV + H2O2, O3/H2O2, and UV photocatalysis.
- Use of commercial and novel photocatalysts such as TiO2 and boron nitride (BN).
- Analysis of target and non-target PFAS compounds in real groundwater samples before and after treatment.
Main Results:
- AOPs demonstrated removal of specific target PFAS compounds (e.g., PFDA, PFNA, PFOA, PFOS).
- Under high-dose conditions, AOPs converted non-detected/unknown longer-chain PFAS into shorter-chain ones.
- This transformation led to a significant increase in total PFAS (∑PFAS) concentration, ranging from 95% to 340%.
Conclusions:
- AOPs show potential for PFAS removal but can inadvertently increase total PFAS by transforming unknown compounds.
- Future PFAS treatment studies must account for non-target PFAS and their transformation products.
- Adsorbable organic fluorine (AOF) analysis before and after AOP treatment is a promising approach to assess overall effectiveness and risks.
More Related Videos
07:06Investigating Long-Distance Transport of Perfluoroalkyl Acids in Wheat via a Split-Root Exposure Technique
Published on: September 28, 2022
09:49Use of a Battery of Chemical and Ecotoxicological Methods for the Assessment of the Efficacy of Wastewater Treatment Processes to Remove Estrogenic Potency
Published on: September 11, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Bioremediation
Radical Autoxidation
Phase I Reactions: Oxidation of Aliphatic and Aromatic Carbon-Containing Systems
Oxidation reactions are fundamental in aromatic carbon-containing systems. An example is the hydroxylation of phenobarbital, a process that transforms it into...
