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Colloid-facilitated release of PFAS from polluted-soil monoliths
Elisabeth Fries1, Denis Courtier-Murias2, Pierre Labadie3
1GERS-LEE, Université Gustave Eiffel, Bouguenais F-44344, France; EMMAH, INRAE, Avignon Université, Avignon 84000, France.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|May 7, 2026
Summary
Colloidal soil particles significantly enhance the movement of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from firefighting foam contamination sites. This colloid-facilitated transport impacts PFAS mobility in soil and groundwater.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Soil Science
- Contaminant Hydrology
Background:
- Firefighting Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF) are a major source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination at training sites.
- PFAS are persistent environmental pollutants, leading to soil and groundwater contamination.
- Colloidal soil particles are hypothesized to influence the transport of contaminants with strong soil affinities, including PFAS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the factors determining and the extent of colloid-facilitated transport of PFAS from undisturbed soil monoliths impacted by AFFF.
- To analyze PFAS mobility under simulated rainfall conditions in real soil environments, moving beyond model systems.
Main Methods:
- Utilized undisturbed soil monoliths from AFFF-impacted sites.
- Simulated rainfall experiments to collect leachate and analyze PFAS concentrations.
- Quantified PFAS in both colloids and bulk soil, and correlated with colloid concentration and flow regimes.
Main Results:
- Colloids facilitated the transport of 12 PFAS (chain length nc ≥ 6), contributing up to 70% of their concentration in leachates.
- PFAS were enriched in colloids (up to 25x higher than bulk soil) due to adsorption from soil solution.
- Colloid-facilitated transport intensified during transient flow, likely due to air-water interface interactions.
Conclusions:
- Colloidal particles play a crucial role as a transport vector for PFAS in contaminated soils.
- PFAS mobility is influenced by colloid presence, PFAS chain length, soil structure, and flow dynamics.
- A revised conceptual model for PFAS fate in soils must account for colloid-facilitated transport.
Keywords:
ColloidDouble-permeabilityForever chemicalsMacroporePreferential flowTransportUndisturbed soilMore Related Videos
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