PFAS removal via combination of adsorption on highly selective fluoropolymers and ultrafiltration

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose significant health as well as environmental concerns due to their persistence in the ecosystem and accumulation in living beings. The major exposure of PFAS for humans poses contaminated drinking water. Therefore, it has become a priority to develop materials for the removal of PFAS. This research presents a new type of adsorber material with a dual adsorption mechanism based on ion exchange as well as fluoro-fluoro interactions. The newly developed polymer was characterized regarding its ionic capacity, loading capacity, recovery and regeneration. The polymer was compared with powdered activated carbon (PAC), which is the mostly used material for the removal of PFAS Worldwide. Four PFAS components were selected as model substances, namely PFBA, PFOA, PFOS and GenX. The newly developed polymer shows five to twelve times higher capacities for short- chain (<7 C atoms, e.g. PFBA) as well as long- chain PFAS in comparison to PAC.
Author: Rania Bakry, Jan Back, Johanna Freilinger, Maria Fürhacker, Sebastian Handl, Claudia Hledik, Simon Jabornig, Marc Koch, Madeleine Larch, Jana Marx, Herwig Schottenberger, Thomas Obholzer, Marco Rupprich & Martin Spruck