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PFOA-mineral surface complexation and multicomponent reactive transport under static and dynamic hydrochemistry
Jacopo Cogorno1, Massimo Rolle2
1School of Engineering, Brown University, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912, United States; Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Miljøvej, Building 115, Kgs Lyngby 2800, Denmark.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) adsorption on goethite is sensitive to water chemistry. Acidic, low salinity conditions maximize PFOA retention, crucial for predicting PFAS transport in groundwater.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Geochemistry
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a persistent environmental contaminant.
- PFOA exists mainly as an anion, making its environmental behavior dependent on hydrochemistry.
- Goethite is a common iron oxyhydroxide mineral in soils and sediments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate PFOA adsorption on goethite and goethite-coated sand.
- To understand the influence of pH, ionic strength, and concentration on PFOA-goethite interactions.
- To develop and validate a model for predicting PFOA transport under varying hydrochemical conditions.
Main Methods:
- Batch and column experiments were conducted to study PFOA adsorption.
- Adsorption isotherms and pH envelopes were measured.
- A surface complexation model was developed and implemented in reactive transport simulations.
Main Results:
- PFOA adsorption is strongest under acidic, low ionic strength conditions.
- Salinity fronts influence PFOA mobility through interdependent surface charge and multicomponent effects.
- The developed model accurately predicted coupled PFOA, pH, and electrolyte transport.
Conclusions:
- Mineral surface charge and multisolute electrostatic effects are critical factors controlling PFOA mobility.
- Mechanistic thermodynamic models are necessary for accurate PFAS transport prediction under dynamic hydrochemical conditions.
- Understanding these interactions is vital for managing PFAS contamination in groundwater.
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