Themed collection PFAS: cleaning up drinking water

Many existing definitions of PFAS are overly broad, there is a strong case for a more precise definition of regulated PFAS.

PFASs are called “forever chemicals” because they do not fully degrade. They have become so ubiquitous in the environment that it is difficult to prevent exposure. This review aims to provide a set of improved technologies to remove PFASs from water.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are an emerging class of pervasive and harmful environmental micropollutant with negative health effects on humans.

Proposed treatment steps to target the removal of short-chain PFAS from contaminated aqueous solutions.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

Mechanisms of photodegradation of PFAS with different chain lengths and structures using a wide range of photo-oxidative/reductive agents, effects of key parameters on these processes, and synergistic effects of other treatments are reviewed.

Our critical review provides a comprehensive state-of-the-art understanding of PFAS thermal behavior and destruction mechanisms under different thermal destruction technologies and further research needs.

A series of proteins is evaluated for the binding of both short- and long-chain perfluoroalkyl substances. Such data can guide the removal of these persistent environmental contaminants and clarify the nature of their interactions with biomolecules.

We report the development of a high throughput differential PFAS sensing platform using dynamic combinatorial libraries as sensors, with sensing at the lowest concentrations and in the most complex mixtures reported to date via fluorescence methods.

Analysis of precipitation finds many emerging PFAS.

18 PFASs were studied in adsorption on 9 different zeolites and powdered activated carbon (PAC) using ultrapure and real water samples. Zeolite beta with SAR equal to 25 had the most promising performance among all the zeolites investigated.

Here, we developed a LDI-MS method with a unique capability of simultaneous analysis of EC and OC. By using PFASs as a typical set of OC and CB as a model EC, we successfully monitored the adsorption process of PFASs on CB enabled by LDI-MS.

In situ high-temperature synchrotron XRPD, thermal and carbon elemental/isotopic analyses demonstrated the efficiency of the thermal heating as regeneration strategy to remove PFAS from water without affect the zeolites structural features.

Mechanochemical treatment, or high energy ball milling, was successfully employed to destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in an aqueous film-forming foam concentrate and an authentic contaminated soil sample.

The integrative response of a PFAS-specific passive sampler was evaluated in water streams where the concentration varied with time. An integrative response regime over 90 days was observed for most PFAS analytes.

A simple equilibrium passive sampler, consisting of water in an inert container capped with a rate-limiting barrier, for the monitoring of PFAS in sediment pore water and surface water was developed and tested through a series of laboratory and field experiments.

Quaternized nanocellulose (QNC), synthesized in this study, showed improved removal of both short chain and long chain PFAS by increasing the electrostatic interactions between the anionic functional groups of PFAS and the cationic quaternary ammonium groups of QNC.

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater solids have resulted in bans on land application of biosolids, causing utilities to explore thermal treatment options.

The presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the food chain poses a threat to human health.

We have developed reaction libraries for predicting transformation products of PFAS in a variety of environmental and biological reaction systems.

Fingerprints associated with long-range atmospheric transport, production of paper products, and use of aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) were identified.

Aqueous PFAS concentrations fluctuate seasonally and precursor concentrations rapidly decline within the surface-water/groundwater boundary, indicating that transport through this boundary can affect spatial and temporal PFAS composition.

We present optimized parameters for three independent suspect screening workflows for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and demonstrate their accuracy, precision, and reproducibility.

We introduce new PFAS passive sampling devices based on porous graphene monoliths grafted with cationic functional groups for broad-spectrum PFAS pre-concentration including short-chain anionic species.

We introduce a green and efficient approach for removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) based on the β-lactoglobulin amyloid fibril membrane.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from industrial and residential sources enter wastewater treatment facilities where they may be partially transformed, sequestered into sludge solids, or discharged into receiving water bodies.