4.2 Article

Decomposition of Carboxylic PFAS by Persulfate Activated by Silver under Ambient Conditions

Journal

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Volume 146, Issue 10, Pages -

Publisher

ASCE-AMER SOC CIVIL ENGINEERS
DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0001808

Keywords

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA); Persulfate; Silver; Ambient condition; Fenton-like reaction

Funding

  1. Department of Defense through the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program [ER18-1482]
  2. University of Texas at Arlington through the Interdisciplinary Research Program

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Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), widely used in many commercial and military products, have been notorious due to their environmental persistence. Even radical-based advanced oxidation technologies have been reported to be less effective for decomposition of PFAS, particularly perfluoroalkyl ones, while commonly requiring energy-intensive extreme conditions and tools such as ultraviolet, ultrasound, microwave, electron beam, and high temperatures. Herein, for the first time, the potential of a modified Fenton system, i.e., homogeneous persulfate (PS) conjugated with silver (Ag+), to decompose PFAS under ambient conditions is communicated. Among many combinations of common oxidants and transition metals tested, only the PS/Ag pair showed significant reactivity at 20 degrees C exclusively toward carboxylic PFAS including perfluorooctanoic acid, resulting in evolution of fluoride ion release and reaction by-product formation. Although sulfonic PFAS still remain challenging, and follow-up assignments are raised to investigate in-depth mechanisms and examine other oxidant and metal pairs, this study offers one step closer to establishing an energy-independent and more practical treatment system for PFAS. (c) 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.

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