Issue 6, 2022

Proteins as adsorbents for PFAS removal from water

Abstract

As industries replace perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanoic sulfonic acid (PFOS) with short-chain perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), these more water-soluble short-chain compounds are emerging as persistent environmental contaminants. Like PFOA and PFOS, health effects on humans and wildlife also occur with these industrial alternatives. However, their removal from water is more challenging due to their increased hydrophilicity. Herein, we describe a material discovery approach using commercially available proteins, molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) filter devices, and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) to identify proteins capable of extracting shorter chain compounds. Depletion with PFOA was first attempted to establish a reliable screening method. The method developed identified proteins that could deplete hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HPFO-DA), perfluorobutyric acid (PFBA), and perfluoro butane sulfonic acid (PFBS) from water. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme performed the best at 84–99% removal of PFOA, HPFO-DA, PFBA, and PFBS from relevant water matrices with starting concentrations of 250 ppb. In addition to identifying new candidates for the removal of PFAS, this approach allowed for comparative protein analysis to arrive at protein properties contributing to PFAS binding.

Graphical abstract: Proteins as adsorbents for PFAS removal from water

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
14 יול 2021
Accepted
28 מרץ 2022
First published
31 מרץ 2022

Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2022,8, 1188-1194

Author version available

Proteins as adsorbents for PFAS removal from water

E. T. Hernandez, B. Koo, L. E. Sofen, R. Amin, R. K. Togashi, A. I. Lall, D. J. Gisch, B. J. Kern, M. A. Rickard and M. B. Francis, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2022, 8, 1188 DOI: 10.1039/D1EW00501D

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements