Themed collection PFAS: cleaning up drinking water
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The case for a more precise definition of regulated PFAS
Many existing definitions of PFAS are overly broad, there is a strong case for a more precise definition of regulated PFAS.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2021,23, 1834-1838
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00296A
Reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes for highly efficient PFASs removal: overview, challenges and future perspectives
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.
Dalton Trans., 2021,50, 5398-5410
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1DT00360G
Towards deployable electrochemical sensors for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are an emerging class of pervasive and harmful environmental micropollutant with negative health effects on humans.
Chem. Commun., 2021,57, 8121-8130
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CC02641K
Adsorption as a remediation technology for short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water – a critical review
Proposed treatment steps to target the removal of short-chain PFAS from contaminated aqueous solutions.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2023,9, 344-362
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EW00721E
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Current progress in the environmental analysis of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Environ. Sci.: Adv., 2022,1, 705-724
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2VA00147K
Photo-chemical/catalytic oxidative/reductive decomposition of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), decomposition mechanisms and effects of key factors: a review
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.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2022,8, 698-728
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EW00774B
PFAS fate and destruction mechanisms during thermal treatment: a comprehensive review
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.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 196-208
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00465D
Proteins as adsorbents for PFAS removal from water
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.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2022,8, 1188-1194
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EW00501D
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Detection and differentiation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water using a fluorescent imprint-and-report sensor array
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.
Chem. Sci., 2023,14, 928-936
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SC05685B
Non-targeted identification and semi-quantitation of emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in US rainwater
Analysis of precipitation finds many emerging PFAS.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2023,25, 1771-1787
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00349J
Exploring the adsorption of short and long chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to different zeolites using environmental samples
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.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2023,9, 2595-2604
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3EW00225J
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Monitoring the adsorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on carbon black by LDI-MS capable of simultaneous analysis of elemental and organic carbon
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.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2023,25, 1311-1321
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3EM00129F
High temperature behaviour of Ag-exchanged Y zeolites used for PFAS sequestration from water
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.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2023,25, 20066-20075
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3CP01584J
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Mechanochemical destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in aqueous film-forming foams and contaminated soil
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.
Environ. Sci.: Adv., 2023,2, 982-989
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3VA00099K
Laboratory validation of an integrative passive sampler for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water
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.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2023,9, 1849-1861
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3EW00047H
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A field-validated equilibrium passive sampler for the monitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in sediment pore water and surface water
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.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2023,25, 980-995
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00483F
Efficient removal of short-chain and long-chain PFAS by cationic nanocellulose
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.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2023,11, 9868-9883
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3TA01851B
Pyrolysis transports, and transforms, PFAS from biosolids to py-liquid
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.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2023,9, 386-395
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EW00677D
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Distributions and sources of traditional and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances among multiple environmental media in the Qiantang River watershed, China
The presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the food chain poses a threat to human health.
RSC Adv., 2022,12, 21247-21254
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2RA02385G
Development of a PFAS reaction library: identifying plausible transformation pathways in environmental and biological systems
We have developed reaction libraries for predicting transformation products of PFAS in a variety of environmental and biological reaction systems.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 689-753
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00445J
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A review of PFAS fingerprints in fish from Norwegian freshwater bodies subject to different source inputs
Fingerprints associated with long-range atmospheric transport, production of paper products, and use of aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) were identified.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 330-342
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00408E
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Surface-water/groundwater boundaries affect seasonal PFAS concentrations and PFAA precursor transformations
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.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2021,23, 1893-1905
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00329A
Evaluation, optimization, and application of three independent suspect screening workflows for the characterization of PFASs in water
We present optimized parameters for three independent suspect screening workflows for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and demonstrate their accuracy, precision, and reproducibility.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2021,23, 1554-1565
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00286D
A graphene-based hydrogel monolith with tailored surface chemistry for PFAS passive sampling
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.
Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2021,8, 2894-2907
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EN00517K
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Amyloid fibril-based membranes for PFAS removal from water
We introduce a green and efficient approach for removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) based on the β-lactoglobulin amyloid fibril membrane.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 1873-1884
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EW00373A
Distribution and fate of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater treatment facilities
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.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2021,23, 903-913
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00032B
About this collection
Over the past decade PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have quickly established themselves as one of the most infamous environmental pollutants. They have featured in a Hollywood film and are regularly reported upon by local and national media outlets. For humans, one of our main concerns is PFAS in our drinking water. This a topic that the RSC have been raising awareness of recently through fundamental research and policy-based workshops.
The world of PFAS is a rapidly evolving field. We are currently debating; what is a PFAS, how many there are, how they behave in the environment, how to measure them, how toxic they are, how to regulate them, and how to remediate them. We have learnt a lot about PFAS over the last decade but for every question we answer, more seem to emerge. Now is a truly exciting and challenging time to be involved in this field of research, and that is set to continue for some time to come.
Within this collection, curated by Dr David Megson (Manchester Metropolitan University, UK) we have highlighted recently published manuscripts in RSC journals that have made a significant contribution to our understanding of PFAS in water.