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Degradation and defluorination of C6F13 PFASs with different functional groups by VUV/UV-based reduction and
Taeyeon Kim1, Soyeon Eom1, Moon-Kyung Kim2
1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
Abstract:
Structural diversity can affect the degradability of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) during water treatment. Here, three PFASs with different functional groups-C6F13-R, PFHpA, PFHxS, and 6:2 FTS-were degraded using vacuum ultraviolet (VUV/UV)-based treatments. While fully fluorinated PFASs-PFHpA and PFHxS-were degraded faster in the VUV/UV/sulfite reaction than in VUV/UV photolysis, VUV/UV photolysis was more effective for degrading 6:2 FTS by OH radicals produced through photolysis of water. PFCAs such as PFHxA, PFPeA, and PFBA were formed by VUV/UV photolysis of PFHpA and 6:2 FTS, but the PFCA formation was inhibited in the VUV/UV/sulfite reaction. The degradation of the three PFASs in the VUV/UV/sulfite reaction was mainly carried out by H/F and SO3•-/F exchange mechanisms, mediated by hydrated electrons (eaq-) produced in the reaction. During the VUV/UV/sulfite reaction, PFCA precursors were first formed as transformation products, which were further transformed into PFCAs by the following VUV/UV/H2O2 reaction, implying enhanced defluorination of three PFASs. Our results indicate that VUV/UV-based treatments can be an option for PFAS degradation and defluorination by combining advanced reduction and oxidation processes and utilizing both eaq- and oxidative radicals.
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