Membrane-based technologies for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) removal from water: Removal mechanisms, applications, challenges and perspectives

Water purification from per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), as a group of persistent and mobile fluoroorganic contaminants, is receiving increasing attention worldwide due to the ubiquitous presence of these highly toxic compounds. To reduce the risk of exposure of human life to PFASs and their dispersion in the environment, various techniques, primarily based on membrane technologies, have been rapidly developed. Here we critically review and analyze the current state-of-the-art of membrane-based techniques for PFASs removal, including direct membrane filtrations, adsorption-based membranes, and hybrid membrane processes. Membranes performance, treatment efficiencies, characteristic parameters and mechanisms for PFASs removal are discussed in detail. We highlight and discuss advantages and limitations, as well as challenges and prospects of individual membrane-based PFASs treatments, pointing towards the practical and sustainable application of these technologies.

Automated summary

The removal of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) from water using membrane-based techniques has garnered increasing attention worldwide due to the widespread presence and high toxicity of these compounds. Different membrane technologies, such as direct filtration, adsorption-based membranes, and hybrid processes, have been developed to address the risk of exposure to PFASs and their environmental dispersion. The performance, treatment efficiencies, and mechanisms of these membrane processes for PFASs removal are analyzed, with a focus on the advantages, limitations, challenges, and prospects of applying these technologies in a practical and sustainable manner.