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Electrochemical degradation of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances using boron-doped diamond electrodes
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Geosciences and Environmental Engineering.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5630-1027
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Geosciences and Environmental Engineering.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4292-6752
UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Norway.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4497-6529
Environment Testing, Eurofins, Sweden.
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2021 (English)In: Journal of Environmental Management, ISSN 0301-4797, E-ISSN 1095-8630, Vol. 290, article id 112573Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Electrochemical degradation using boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes has been proven to be a promising technique for the treatment of water contaminated with per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Various studies have demonstrated that the extent of PFAS degradation is influenced by the composition of samples and electrochemical conditions. This study evaluated the significance of several factors, such as the current density, initial concentration of PFAS, concentration of electrolyte, treatment time, and their interactions on the degradation of PFAS. A 24 factorial design was applied to determine the effects of the investigated factors on the degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and generation of fluoride in spiked water. The best-performing conditions were then applied to the degradation of PFAS in wastewater samples. The results revealed that current density and time were the most important factors for PFOA degradation. In contrast, a high initial concentration of electrolyte had no significant impact on the degradation of PFOA, whereas it decreased the generation of F. The experimental design model indicated that the treatment of spiked water under a current density higher than 14 mA cm−2 for 3–4 h could degrade PFOA with an efficiency of up to 100% and generate an F fraction of approximately 40–50%. The observed high PFOA degradation and a low concentration of PFAS degradation products indicated that the mineralization of PFOA was effective. Under the obtained best conditions, the degradation of PFOA in wastewater samples was 44–70%. The degradation efficiency for other PFAS in these samples was 65–80% for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and 42–52% for 6–2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6-2 FTSA). The presence of high total organic carbon (TOC) and chloride contents was found to be an important factor affecting the efficiency of PFAS electrochemical degradation in wastewater samples. The current study indicates that the tested method can effectively degrade PFAS in both water and wastewater and suggests that increasing the treatment time is needed to account for the presence of other oxidizable matrices.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2021. Vol. 290, article id 112573
Keywords [en]
PFAS, Electrochemical degradation, Design of experiment, Water, Wastewater, Oxidizable substances
National Category
Other Environmental Engineering
Research subject
Waste Science and Technology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-83724DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112573ISI: 000656472500001PubMedID: 33873022Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85104141585OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ltu-83724DiVA, id: diva2:1544946
Funder
Interreg Nord, NYPS 20202462
Note

Validerad;2021;Nivå 2;2021-04-16 (alebob);

Finansiär: Swedish Geotechnical Institute; Tuffo Research and Technology Development Program

Available from: 2021-04-16 Created: 2021-04-16 Last updated: 2024-03-26Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Remediation of PFAS-contaminated soil and wastewater: Feasibility of chain treatment applying destructive techniques
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Remediation of PFAS-contaminated soil and wastewater: Feasibility of chain treatment applying destructive techniques
2023 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals ubiquitously distributed in soil and aquatic media, resulting from their wide range of industrial applications. Today, PFAS is a global concern due to their persistence in the environment and their adverse effects on humans and the ecosystem. Despite the considerable efforts to develop PFAS treatment methods, a viable solution has not yet been established.

This Ph.D. thesis investigated the potential of applying electrochemical oxidation (EO) and UV radiation assisted with persulfate (PS/UV), both individually and in combination(EO-UV), for PFAS degradation in solutions. Furthermore, integrating destructive technique showing the most promising results, i.e., EO, within a treatment chain comprising soil washing (SW) and foam fractionation (FF) was assessed to eliminate PFAS from contaminated soil. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) accounted for 97% of the PFAS contamination in the soil. 

The EO and PS/UV showed the potential to break down PFAS in spiked solutions. Removal of 99 % perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was found at a current density of 23.4 mA cm-2 and 4 h whereas 80% PFOA, 60% PFOS, and 57% perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) were removed in 4 h and in the presence of 5 g L-1 Na2S2O8. By transferring the best experimental conditions for the treatment of PFAS-contaminated wastewater, the removal of 56% ∑11PFAS was reached using EO whereas PS/UV led to an increase in the concentration of PFAS. It was highlighted that optimizing EO would lead to higher removal and reduce energy consumption. Nevertheless, PFAS removal from groundwater using PS/UV treatment was almost as effective as in synthetic solutions, highlighting its potential for treating PFAS in matrix-free water. Combining EO and UV led to substantial removal improvements due to degradation processes in both systems, probably due to synergistic effects. Adding FF to soil SW led to an average removal of 82% and 92% ∑11PFAS in soil and leachate respectively, at the L/S of 5 (five washing cycles) and pH 11.5. As per estimations, employing 20 treatment cycles could result in 94% and 91% of PFAS removal in soil and leachate. The EO at 60 mA cm-2 and 2 h removed 88.3% of ∑11PFAS, which was contained in wastewater resulting from the FF process. Overall, the SW-FF-EO three-stage treatment led to the removal of 67% ∑11PFAS, estimated to be 88% if the SW-FF consecutive treatments are repeated 20 times. Incorporating FF in the treatment chain enabled leachate recycling and reduced water volume needs in the soil treatment process, but also concentrated PFAS in a smaller water volume, thereby allowing the EO step to be more cost-effective.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Luleå: Luleå University of Technology, 2023
Series
Doctoral thesis / Luleå University of Technology 1 jan 1997 → …, ISSN 1402-1544
National Category
Environmental Sciences Other Environmental Engineering
Research subject
Waste Science and Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-101127 (URN)978-91-8048-357-5 (ISBN)978-91-8048-358-2 (ISBN)
Public defence
2023-10-31, E 632, Luleå tekniska universitet, Luleå, 10:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Funder
Interreg Nord, NYPS 20202462Swedish Geotechnical Institute, Tuffo research and technology development programNorrbotten County Council
Available from: 2023-08-31 Created: 2023-08-31 Last updated: 2023-10-10Bibliographically approved

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Uwayezu, Jean NoelCarabante, IvanLejon, ToreKumpiene, Jurate

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