Challenges Facing Sustainable Visible Light Induced Degradation of Poly- and Perfluoroalkyls (PFA) in Water: A Critical Review

Poly- and perfluoroalkyls(PFAs) are now designated as seriousthreats to the environment. More than 4700 PFAs, along with theirprecursors, show a high degree of persistence and long-range spreadingin soils and waters causing recalcitrant bioaccumulation in plants,fish, birds, and mammals causing health hazards all along the foodchain. Visible-light induced degradation of PFA in pure water usingphotocatalysts, a potentially sustainable advanced oxidation process,showed exciting results in laboratories for both complete and partialmineralization of these toxins. However, none of the methods and materialshave been considered so far for upscaling toward practical applicationsdue to several hard-to-resolve challenges. This Review provides acritical analysis of the recent advancements in photocatalytic remediationof aqueous PFA under visible light irradiation and addresses possiblefuture directions to valorize some of the prospective methods andmaterials to practical applications.

Automated summary

Poly- and perfluoroalkyls (PFAs) are serious threats to the environment due to their persistence and long-range spreading. Visible-light induced degradation using photocatalysts shows promising results for remediation of PFAs, but there are challenges in upscaling it for practical applications. This Review critically analyzes recent advancements in photocatalytic remediation of aqueous PFAs under visible light irradiation and suggests future directions for practical applications.