Theoretical and experimental insights into the electrochemical mineralization mechanism of perfluorooctanoic acid

Benchtop 19 F NMR spectroscopy as a practical tool for testing of remedial technologies for the degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid, a persistent organic pollutant

The development of effective remedial technologies for the destruction of environmental pollutants requires the ability to clearly monitor degradation processes. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful tool for understanding reaction progress; however, practical considerations often restrict the application of NMR spectroscopy as a tool to better understand the degradation of environmental pollutants. Chief among these restrictions is the limited access smaller environmental research labs and remediation companies have to suitable NMR facilities. Benchtop NMR spectroscopy is a low-cost and user-friendly approach to acquire much of the same information as conventional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, albeit with reduced sensitivity and resolution. This paper explores the practical application of benchtop NMR spectroscopy to understand the degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid using sodium persulfate, a common reagent for the destruction of groundwater contaminants. It is found that Benchtop ¹⁹ F NMR spectroscopy is able to monitor the complete degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid into fluoride; however, the observation of intermediate degradation products formed, which can be observed using a conventional NMR spectrometer, cannot be readily distinguished from the parent compound when measurements are performed using the benchtop instrument. Under certain reaction conditions, the formation of fluorinated structures that are resistant to further degradation is readily observed. Overall, it is shown that benchtop ¹⁹ F NMR spectroscopy has potential as a quick and reliable tool to assist in the development of remedial technologies for the degradation of fluorinated contaminants.

Photocatalytic transformation fate and toxicity of ciprofloxacin related to dissociation species: Experimental and theoretical evidences

Chemical speciation of ionizable antibiotics greatly affects its photochemical kinetics and mechanisms; however, the mechanistic impact of chemical speciation is not well understood. For the first time, the impact of different dissociation species (cationic, zwitterionic and anionic forms) of ciprofloxacin (CIP) on its photocatalytic transformation fate was systematically studied in a UVA/LED/TiO₂ system. The dissociation forms of CIP at different pH affected the photocatalytic degradation kinetics, transformation products (TPs) formation as well as degradation pathways. Zwitterionic form of CIP exhibited the highest degradation rate constant (0.2217 ± 0.0179 min^-1), removal efficiency of total organic carbon (TOC) and release of fluoride ion (F^-). Time-dependent evolution profiles on TPs revealed that the cationic and anionic forms of CIP mainly underwent piperazine ring dealkylation, while zwitterionic CIP primarily proceeded through defluorination and piperazine ring oxidation. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) calculation based on Fukui index well interpreted the active sites of different CIP species. Potential energy surface (PES) analysis further elucidated the reaction transition state (TS) evolution and energy barrier (ΔE_b) for CIP with different dissociation species after radical attack. This study provides deep insights into degradation mechanisms of emerging organic contaminants in advanced oxidation processes associated to their chemical speciation.

Amorphous Pd-Loaded Ti4O7 Electrode for Direct Anodic Destruction of Perfluorooctanoic Acid

We here present a novel Ti₄O₇-based electrode loaded with amorphous Pd clusters that achieve efficient anodic destruction of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a persistent water pollutant with significant environmental and human health concerns. These amorphous Pd clusters were characterized by the disordered, noncrystalline arrangement of Pd single atoms in close proximity, in contrast to crystalline Pd nanoparticles that have been often employed to tailor the electronic properties of an electrode. We found that the Ti₄O₇ electrode loaded with amorphous Pd clusters significantly outperformed the Ti₄O₇ electrode loaded with crystalline Pd particles due to enhanced electron transfer through dominant Pd-O bonds. Combined with the efficient binding of PFOA and its degradation intermediates to the fluorinated electrode surface, this electrode was capable of mineralizing PFOA and releasing fluoride as F^-. The reaction pathway was found to proceed without involving reactive oxygen species and therefore was not quenched by common anions in complex natural water systems such as chloride ions.

On the Role of the Cathode for the Electro-Oxidation of Perfluorooctanoic Acid

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), C7F15COOH, has been widely employed over the past fifty years, causing an environmental problem because of its dispersion and low biodegradability. Furthermore, the high stability of this molecule, conferred by the high strength of the C-F bond makes it very difficult to remove. In this work, electrochemical techniques are applied for PFOA degradation in order to study the influence of the cathode on defluorination. For this purpose, boron-doped diamond (BDD), Pt, Zr, and stainless steel have been tested as cathodes working with BDD anode at low electrolyte concentration (3.5 mM) to degrade PFOA at 100 mg/L. Among these cathodic materials, Pt improves the defluorination reaction. The electro-degradation of a PFOA molecule starts by a direct exchange of one electron at the anode and then follows a complex mechanism involving reaction with hydroxyl radicals and adsorbed hydrogen on the cathode. It is assumed that Pt acts as an electrocatalyst, enhancing PFOA defluorination by the reduction reaction of perfluorinated carbonyl intermediates on the cathode. The defluorinated intermediates are then more easily oxidized by HO• radicals. Hence, high mineralization (xTOC: 76.1%) and defluorination degrees (xF−: 58.6%) were reached with Pt working at current density j = 7.9 mA/cm2. This BDD-Pt system reaches a higher efficiency in terms of defluorination for a given electrical charge than previous works reported in literature. Influence of the electrolyte composition and initial pH are also explored.

Insights into electrochemical decomposition mechanism of lipopolysaccharide using TiO2 nanotubes arrays electrode

Electrochemical decomposition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was firstly investigated over titania nanotubes (TNTs) arrays electrode. The TNTs layer of this electrode consisted of numerous tubular structures which arranged tightly, and the average diameter of each nanotube is 100 ± 5 nm. The degradation of LPS and polysaccharides followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The optimal LPS removal ratio was nearly 80 %. The endotoxin toxicity of LPS steadily decreased during the electrolysis process. The acute toxicity of the intermediates increased suddenly at the beginning of electrochemical degradation process (< 5 min), then maintained high inhibition ratio (> 95 %) for about 150 min, and decreased significantly (< 10 %) after electrolysis for 240 min. After 20 min of electrolysis, LPS with molecular weight of 116,854 Da was transformed into small molecular compounds with molecular weights of 59,312 - 12,209 Da. Possible degradation and detoxification mechanisms of LPS including electric-field-force-driving accumulation, adsorption and direct electron transfer on TNTs arrays electrode, and •OH oxidation were proposed. This study underscores that electrochemical technique can be applied to eliminate and decrease the toxicity of LPS from contaminated water.

Photoelectrochemical degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) with GOP25/FTO anodes: Intermediates and reaction pathways

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) have been widely studied due to their persistence, bioaccumulation and possible toxic effects. In this work, we investigated a photoelectrochemical (PEC) system consisting of a graphene oxide-titanium dioxide (GOP25) anode coated on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass for removal of PFOA in an aquatic environment. The GOP25/FTO anode was fabricated and well characterized. Nearly complete decomposition of 0.5 mg/L PFOA was achieved after 4 h of PEC treatment with an initial pH of 5.3 and a current density of 16.7 mA cm^-2. The presence of graphene oxide (GO) on the TiO₂ anode could enhance its electrochemical performance, thereby leading to increased decomposition efficiency. A total of 18 PFOA transformation products, including short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids, are reported in this work, and 13 products were observed for the first time. Four possible routes of PFOA decomposition, namely, decarboxylation followed by oxidation, defluorination, hydroxylation and Cl atom substitution, were determined. The presence of chlorinated byproducts in the system indicated that reactive chlorine species contributed to PFOA degradation.

Removal of COD, NH4-N, and perfluorinated compounds from wastewater treatment plant effluent using ZnO-coated activated carbon

This study investigated the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH₄-N, and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in the effluent from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) using ZnO coated activated carbon (ZnO/AC). Results suggested that the optimal dosage of the ZnO/AC was 0.8 g/L within 240 min of contact time, at which the maximum removal efficiency of COD was approximately 86.8%, while the removal efficiencies of PFOA and PFOS reached 86.5% and 82.1%. In comparison, the removal efficiencies of NH₄-N, PFBA, and PFBS were lower, at approximately 47.9%, 44.0%, and 55.4%, respectively. In addition, COD was preferentially adsorbed before PFCs and NH₄-N, when the contact time ranged from 0 to 180 min, and the order of PFCs removal showed a positive correlation with C-F chain length. The kinetic study revealed that the removal of COD, NH₄-N, and PFCs could be better depicted and predicted by the Lagergren quasi-second order dynamic model with high correlation coefficients, which involved liquid membrane diffusion, intraparticle diffusion, and photocatalytic reactions. The saturated ZnO/AC was finally regenerated using ultrasound for 3 h and retained excellent performance, which proved it could be considered as an effective and alternative technology.

Theoretical insight into the degradation of p-nitrophenol by OH radicals synergized with other active oxidants in aqueous solution

The degradation of p-nitrophenol (p-NP) based on OH radicals (HO^∙), HO₂ radicals (HO₂^∙) and O₂ in aqueous solution was investigated using theoretical computational methods. The complete degradation mechanisms of reaction between p-NP and HO^∙ were explored by density functional theory (DFT) methods. The 4-nitrophenoxy radicals and 1,2-dihydroxy-4-nitrocylohexadienyl radicals are confirmed to be major intermediates of the HO^∙-initiated reactions in aqueous phase, which consistent with experimental results. The chemical structures of some products (2,4-dihydroxycyclohexa-2,4-dien-1-one and 4-nitrocyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,2-dione) which were not identified in the experiment are determined. New favorable formation channels for some intermediates were found. The primary reactions initiated by HO^∙ or HO₂^∙ with p-NP reveals that HO^∙-initiated degradation is the dominant reaction. HO₂^∙ and O₂ can enhance the degradation extent of p-NP in further reactions. Rate constants of the elementary reactions and overall rate constants were calculated. In addition, the HO^∙-initiated primary reactions in a water box of 500 water molecules were studied using Monte Carlo simulation. All the OH-addition reactions are barrierless and highly feasible. The observed dynamic reaction process is similar to the DFT calculation prediction. Furthermore, the eco-toxicity evaluation shows that important products are harmless or harmful to aquatic organisms, and are much less toxic than p-NP.

Rapid photochemical decomposition of perfluorooctanoic acid mediated by a comprehensive effect of nitrogen dioxide radicals and Fe3+/Fe2+ redox cycle

Developing efficient methods to degrade perfluorochemicals (PFCs), an emerging class of highly recalcitrant contaminants, are urgently needed in recent years, due to their persistence, high toxicity, and resistance to most regular treatment procedures. Here, a UV-photolysis system is reported for efficient mineralization of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) via irradiation of ferric nitrate aqueous solution, where in-situ generating •NO₂ and the effective Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ redox cycle synergistically play great roles on rapidly mediating the mineralization of PFOA. A fast PFOA removal kinetics with first-order kinetic constants of 2.262 h^-1 is observed at initial PFOA concentration of 5 ppm (50 mL volume), reaching ∼ 92 % removal efficiency within only 0.5-h irradiation. Near-stoichiometric fluoride ions liberation and high total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiency (∼100 %) further validated the capability for completely destructive removal of PFOA. A tentative pathway for PFOA destruction is proposed. This work, by UV photolysis of abundant existing iron/nitrate-based systems in natural environment, provides an economical, sustainable and highly efficient approach for complete mineralization of perfluorinated chemicals.

Low-Temperature Removal of Refractory Organic Pollutants by Electrochemical Oxidation: Role of Interfacial Joule Heating Effect

Low temperature presents a challenge to wastewater treatment in the winters of cold regions. In the electrochemical oxidation (EO) process, the interfacial Joule heating (IJH) effect results in interfacial temperature higher than that of bulk electrolytes, which would alleviate the negative impact of low water temperature on organic oxidation occurring within the boundary layer of the anode. This study investigated the electrochemical oxidation of the representative recalcitrant organic pollutant, i.e., phenol, p-chlorophenol (p-CP), and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on titanium suboxide (TiSO) anode at a low water temperature (8.5 ± 1 °C). At a low current density of 2 mA cm^-2, the IJH effect was insignificant and thus had a slight impact on interfacial temperature, leading to a low-efficiency and incomplete organic removal via direct electron transfer (DET) oxidation. Increasing the current density to 20 mA cm^-2 promoted the working up of the IJH effect and thus resulted in a dramatic increase in the interfacial temperature from 8.1 to 38.7 °C. This almost eliminated the negative impact of low temperature on the abatement of organic pollutants as though the low temperature of the bulk solution did not interact with interfacial reactions at all. This was indicated by the oxidation rates of 0.158 min^-1 (phenol), 0.084 min^-1 (p-CP), and 0.070 min^-1 (2.4-D) at a temperature of 8.5 ± 1 °C, the values being almost comparable to that obtained at room temperature (23.5 ± 1 °C). Both theoretical and experimental results demonstrated that the extent to which the low- and room-temperature cases deviated from each other was positively correlated with the activation energy of organic pollutants when reacting with ^•OH. The improvement of organic oxidation at low temperature should result from the compensation of the IJH effect, giving rise to higher ^•OH reactivity, more activated organic molecules, and enhanced mass transfer. This study may prompt new possibilities to develop an IJH effect-based electrochemical manner for decentralized water decontamination in cold regions.

Enhanced perfluorooctanoic acid degradation by electrochemical activation of peroxymonosulfate in aqueous solution

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was efficiently decomposed at Ti/SnO₂-Sb anode via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. PFOA degradation followed both pseudo-zero-order (0-30 min) and pseudo-first-order (30-120 min) kinetics. The pseudo-first-order kinetics constant could increase to 0.0484 min^-1 (3.84 times higher than that without PMS) during 30-120 min electrolysis. The inhibited performance in radical scavengers implied both sulfate radical (SO₄^•-) and hydroxyl radical (•OH) contributed to PFOA degradation. The •OH quantitative detection experiments demonstrated that SO₄^•- formed from PMS activation could promote •OH generation (from 0.12 mM to 0.24 mM). Electron spin resonance (ESR) tests further proved that SO₄^•- and •OH were generated during PFOA degradation. According to linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) analyses, the oxygen evolution potential (OEP) value of Ti/SnO₂-Sb electrode increased from 1.59 V to 1.72 V (vs SCE) via PMS addition, indicating the inhibited oxygen evolution which was beneficial for the reactive species formation (i.e. •OH, SO₄^•-). On the basis of intermediates verification and mass balance of carbon and fluorine, PFOA was proposed to be oxidized into short-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids mainly by •OH and SO₄^•-.

Insights into degradation pathways and toxicity changes during electro-catalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride

The removal of antibiotics has attracted much attention due to their extremely high adverse impacts on the environment. However, the potential risks of degradation intermediates are seldom reported. In this work, the influence of different factors on the electro-catalytic degradation efficiency of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) by the prepared carbon nanotubes/agarose/indium tin oxide (CNTs/AG/ITO) electrode was investigated. Under optimal conditions (10 wt% CNTs dosage, pH = 7), the maximum degradation efficiency for TCH (10 mg L^-1) reached up to 96% within 30 min treatment with 4 V potential. Superoxide anions (•O₂^-) played an important role in the electro-catalytic degradation. Totally 10 degradation intermediates were identified using HPLC-MS/MS, and the degradation pathway was proposed. Toxicities of the parent antibiotic and the identified intermediates were calculated using the ECOSAR (Ecological Structure Activity Relationship) program in EPISuite, and results showed that more toxic intermediates were generated. The maximal chronic toxicity for green algae of the intermediate increased 1439.92 times. Furthermore, antimicrobial activity was further verified by disk agar biocidal tests with Escherichia coli ATCC25922 and higher biotoxicity intermediates compared with parent compounds were confirmed to be formed. Therefore, more attention should be paid on the potential risk of degradation intermediates in the treatment of wastewater containing antibiotics.

Degradation of Perfluorooctanesulfonate by Reactive Electrochemical Membrane Composed of Magnéli Phase Titanium Suboxide

This study investigated the degradation of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) in a reactive electrochemical membrane (REM) system in which a porous Magnéli phase titanium suboxide ceramic membrane served simultaneously as the anode and the membrane. Near complete removal (98.30 ± 0.51%) of PFOS was achieved under a cross-flow filtration mode at the anodic potential of 3.15 V vs standard hydrogen electrode (SHE). PFOS removal efficiency during the REM operation is much greater than that of the batch operation mode under the same anodic potential. A systematic reaction rate analysis in combination with electrochemical characterizations quantitatively elucidated the enhancement of PFOS removal in REM operation in relation to the increased electroactive surface area and improved interphase mass transfer. PFOS appeared to undergo rapid mineralization to CO₂ and F^-, with only trace levels of short-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs, C₄-C₈) identified as intermediate products. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations and experiments involving free radical scavengers indicated that PFOS degradation was initiated by direct electron transfer (DET) on anode to yield PFOS free radicals (PFOS^•), which further react with hydroxyl radicals that were generated by water oxidation and adsorbed on the anode surface (^•OH_ads). The attack of ^•OH_ads is essential to PFOS degradation, because, otherwise, PFOS^• may react with water and revert to PFOS.

Electrochemical Oxidation of Hexafluoropropylene Oxide Dimer Acid (GenX): Mechanistic Insights and Efficient Treatment Train with Nanofiltration

Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, trade name GenX) is a perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acid (PFECA) that has been detected in watersheds around the world. Similar to other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), few processes are able to break HFPO-DA's persistent carbon-fluorine bonds. This study provides both experimental and computational lines of evidence for HFPO-DA mineralization during electrochemical oxidation at a boron-doped diamond anode with a low potential for the generation of stable organofluorine intermediates. Our density functional theory calculations consider the major operative mechanism, direct electron transfer, throughout the entire pathway. Initial oxidative attack does not break the ether bond, but leads to stepwise mineralization of the acidic side chain. Our mechanistic investigations reveal that hydroxyl radicals are unreactive toward HFPO-DA, while electrochemically activated sulfate facilitates its oxidation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that an NF90 membrane is capable of removing 99.5% of HFPO-DA from contaminated water. Electrochemical treatment of the nanofiltration rejectate is shown to reduce both energy and electrode costs by more than 1 order of magnitude compared to direct electrochemical treatment of the raw water. Overall, a nanofiltration-electrochemical oxidation treatment train is a sustainable destructive approach for the cost-effective elimination of HFPO-DA and other PFASs from contaminated water.

New Insights into the Degradation Mechanism of Perfluorooctanoic Acid by Persulfate from Density Functional Theory and Experimental Data

Thermally activated persulfate is a promising oxidant for in situ remediation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), yet a comprehensive understanding of the degradation mechanism is still lacking. In this study, we used density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental data to map entire reaction pathways for the degradation of PFOA by persulfate, with specific considerations on the influence of pH. The DFT results showed that the rate-limiting step was the first electron abstraction from PFOA, yet the generation of SO₄^•- from the decomposition of persulfate contributed a large part of the free energy of activation (ΔG^‡) for the overall reaction. The subsequent steps did not contribute to the ΔG^‡. For the electron abstraction from PFOA, we investigated reactions using protonated and deprotonated species of PFOA and SO₄^•- and showed that the reaction of anionic PFOA with HSO₄^• was most favorable with a ΔG^‡ of 7.2 kJ/mol. This explains why low pH (<3.5) is a sine qua non condition for the degradation of PFOA by persulfate. The overall ΔG^‡ derived theoretically based on the pathway involved HSO₄^• was consistent with the ΔG^‡ determined experimentally. This study provides valuable insight into remediation strategies that include persulfate as an oxidizing agent for perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids.

Removal of PFAS from aqueous solution using PbO2 from lead-acid battery

Whilst advanced electrochemical oxidation can break down per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the requirement for expensive electrode materials usually prevents its widespread application. Here we use an industrial material of lead peroxide (PbO₂) from a lead-acid battery to break down PFAS including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (6:2 FTS). By optimising the PbO₂ panel (activating and doping) and working conditions including supporting electrolyte (1 L 10 mM Na₂SO₄), initial concentration (10 μM), temperature (room temperature), current density (5 A for a 10 cm × 10 cm PbO₂ panel) etc., we successfully remove > 99% PFAS (individual PFAS monitored via HPLC-MS) whilst mineralising ∼59% PFOA (defluorination, F^- released and monitored via F-ISE, fluoride-ion selective electrode). By studying the pseudo-first-order kinetics of the PFAS breakdown (0.0028-0.007 min^-1) and defluorination (0.84-5.9 × 10^-8 min^-1), we assign the difference to the adsorption of PFAS on the PbO₂ panel and the appearance of intermediates before the full defluorination. The leaked HF gas (∼10^-5 M, collected using 0.25 L 0.1 M NaOH) and Pb²⁺ (∼12 μM, or ∼ 2.5 ppm) are also confirmed. This study employs an economic industrial material, highlights the contribution of adsorption towards the PFAS removal and breakdown, and identifies the possible leakage of secondary contaminants.

Understanding the ozonated degradation of sulfadimethoxine, exploration of reaction site, and classification of degradation products

Ozonation has been demonstrated to be an efficient method of water treatment. In this study, the degradation of 20 mg/L of sulfadimethoxine (SDM) in different water matrices during ozonation was investigated. At pH 7.0, 100% removal of SDM was achieved by ozonation within 10 min. The degradation of SDM was more pronounced at acidic pH than under ambient environmental conditions, and was also dependent on different water matrices. Both direct and indirect oxidation of SDM by ozone were observed, and it was also shown that both ozone molecules and hydroxyl radicals were involved in the SDM degradation process, whereas it was found that the saturated ring of SDM made it O₃-recalcitrant. Seven transformation products (TPs) were identified during SDM ozonation, allowing three degradation pathways to be proposed. Additionally, the main reaction sites, including N (7) and C (2) on the aniline ring, and the ^__S^__N^__ bond, were confirmed both experimentally and theoretically. The toxicity evolution during the degradation process was investigated, and the results showed no toxic intermediate products obtained during ozonation.

Perfluorooctanesulfonate Degrades in a Laccase-Mediator System

Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) is a compound that has wide applications with extreme persistence in the environment and the potential to bioaccumulate, and could induce adverse effects to ecosystems. We investigated the degradation of PFOS by laccase-induced enzyme catalyzed oxidative humification reactions (ECOHRs) using 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT) as a mediator. Approximately 59% of PFOS was transformed over 162 days of incubation, and the reaction appeared to follow a pseudo-first-order model with reaction rate constant of 0.0066/ d ( r² = 0.87) under one condition tested. Using differential absorption spectra and theoretical simulation, we elucidated the interaction between Cu²⁺/Mg²⁺ and PFOS, and proposed that Cu²⁺ and Mg²⁺ could serve as a bridge to bring the negatively charged PFOS and laccase to proximity, thus increasing the chance of radicals that are released from laccase to reach and react with PFOS. In addition, density functional theory modeling showed that PFOS complexation to the metal ions could unlock its helical configuration and decrease the C-C bond energy of PFOS. These changes allow the attack of PFOS C-C backbone by radicals to become easier. On the basis of products identification, we proposed that direct attack of PFOS by the HBT radical initiated the free radical chain reaction processes and led to the formation of fluoride and partially fluorinated compounds. These results suggest that ECOHR is a potential pathway by which PFOS could be degraded in the environment, and it may make a viable approach to remediate PFOS contamination via amendment of appropriate enzymes and mediators.

Electrochemical Transformations of Perfluoroalkyl Acid (PFAA) Precursors and PFAAs in Groundwater Impacted with Aqueous Film Forming Foams

While oxidative technologies have been proposed for treatment of waters impacted by aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs), information is lacking regarding the transformation pathways for the chemical precursors to the perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) typically present in such waters. This study examined the oxidative electrochemical treatment of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) for two AFFF-impacted groundwaters. The bulk pseudo first order rate constant for PFOA removal was 0.23 L h^-1 A^-1; for PFOS, this value ranged from 0.084 to 0.23 L h^-1 A^-1. Results from the first groundwater studied suggested a transformation pathway where sulfonamide-based PFASs transformed to primarily perfluorinated sulfonamides and perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs), with subsequent defluorination of the PFCAs. Transient increases in the perfluorinated sulfonamides and PFCAs were observed. For the second groundwater studied, no transient increases in PFAAs were measured, despite the presence of similarly structured suspected PFAA precursors and substantial defluorination. For both waters, suspected precursors were the primary sources of the generated fluoride. Assessment of precursor compound transformation noted the formation of keto-perfluoroalkanesulfonates only in the second groundwater. These results confirm that oxidation and defluorination of suspected PFAA precursors in the second groundwater underwent transformation via a pathway different than that of the first groundwater, which was not captured by total oxidizable precursor assay.

Thermodynamics of aqueous perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (DONA) from DFT calculations: Insights into degradation initiation

Modern fluorosurfactants introduced during and after perfluoroalkyl carboxylates/sulfonates phase-out present chemical features designed to facilitate abatement, hence reducing persistence. However, the implications of such features on environmental partitioning and stability are yet to be fully appreciated, partly due to experimental difficulties inherent to the handling of their (diluted) aqueous solutions. In this work, rigorous quantum chemistry calculations were carried out in order to provide theoretical insights into the thermodynamics of hydroperfluorosurfactants in aqueous medium. Estimates of acid dissociation constant (pK_a), standard reduction potential (E⁰), and bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) and free energy (BDFE) were computed for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (DONA) and their anionic forms via ensemble averaging at density functional theory level with implicit solvent models. A ‹pK_a› in the neighborhood of zero and a E⁰ of about 2.2 V were obtained for PFOA. Predictions for the acidic function of DONA compare well with PFOA's, with a pK_a of 0.8-1.5 and a E⁰ of 2.07-2.15 V. Deprotonation thus represents the dominant phenomenon at environmental conditions. Calculations indicate that H-abstraction of the aliphatic proton of DONA by a hydroxyl radical is the thermodynamically favored reaction path in oxidative media, whereas hydrolysis is not a realistic scenario due to the high dissociation constant. Short intramolecular interactions available to the peculiar hydrophobic tail of DONA were also reviewed, and the relevance of the full conformational space of the fluorinated side chain discussed.

Nitrogen dioxide radicals mediated mineralization of perfluorooctanoic acid in aqueous nitrate solution with UV irradiation

Effective decomposition of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has received increasing attention in recent years because of its global occurrence and resistance to most conventional treatment processes. In this study, the complete mineralization of PFOA was achieved by the UV-photolysis of nitrate aqueous solution (UV/Nitrate), where the in-situ generated nitrogen dioxide radicals (NO₂) efficiently mediated the degradation of PFOA. In particular, when the twinborn hydroxyl radicals were scavenged, the production of more NO₂ radicals realized the complete mineralization of PFOA. DFT calculations further confirm the feasibility of PFOA removal with NO₂. Near-stoichiometric equivalents of fluoride released rather than the related intermediates were detected in solution after decomposition of PEOA, further demonstrating the complete degradation of PFOA. Possible PFOA degradation pathways were proposed on the basis of experimental results. This work offers an efficient strategy for the complete mineralization of perfluorinated chemicals, and also sheds light on the indispensable roles of nitrogen dioxide radicals for environmental pollutants removal.

Fluorination of Boron-Doped Diamond Film Electrodes for Minimization of Perchlorate Formation

This research investigated the effects of surface fluorination on both rates of organic compound oxidation (phenol and terephthalic acid (TA)) and ClO₄^- formation at boron-doped diamond (BDD) film anodes at 22 °C. Different fluorination methods (i.e., electrochemical oxidation with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), radio frequency plasma, and silanization) were used to incorporate fluorinated moieties on the BDD surface, which was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The silanization method was found to be the most effective fluorination method using a 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane precursor to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on the oxygenated BDD surface. The ClO₄^- formation decreased from rates of 0.45 ± 0.03 mmol m^-2 min^-1 during 1 mM NaClO₃ oxidation and 0.28 ± 0.01 mmol m^-2 min^-1 during 10 mM NaCl oxidation on the BDD electrode to below detectable levels (<0.12 μmoles m^-2 min^-1) for the BDD electrode functionalized by a 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane SAM. These decreases in rates corresponded to 99.94 and 99.85% decreases in selectivity for ClO₄^- formation during the electrolysis of 10 mM NaCl and 1 mM NaClO₃ electrolytes, respectively. By contrast, the oxidation rates of phenol were reduced by only 16.3% in the NaCl electrolyte and 61% in a nonreactive 0.1 M KH₂PO₄ electrolyte. Cyclic voltammetry with Fe(CN)₆^3-/4- and Fe^3+/2+ redox couples indicated that the long fluorinated chains created a blocking layer on the BDD surface that inhibited charge transfer via steric hindrance and hydrophobic effects. The surface coverages and thicknesses of the fluorinated films controlled the charge transfer rates, which was confirmed by estimates of film thicknesses using XPS and density functional theory simulations. The aliphatic silanized electrode also showed very high stability during OH^• production. Perchlorate formation rates were below the detection limit (<0.12 μmoles m^-2 min^-1) for up to 10 consecutive NaClO₃ oxidation experiments.

Theory-guided access to efficient photodegradation of the simplest perfluorocarboxylic acid: Trifluoroacetic acid

The photodegradation approaches of perfluorocarboxylic acids have attracted considerable attention and have been developed extensively. However, the reaction channels along which the perfluorocarboxylic acid molecules dissociate remain to be deciphered by means of the quantum chemical method at the electronically excited state level of theory until now. Here we report the photodissociation mechanism of the simplest perfluorocarboxylic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, using the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) and the multi-configurational second-order perturbation (CASPT2) methods. The CC and CO α bond fission channels were both taken into account. Based on the constructed potential energy surfaces, it is concluded that the CC α bond fission, which would probably account for further degradations and mineralizations, may mainly take place in the triplet manifolds via intersystem crossing from the S₁ state. Thus, taking the computational results of the simple member of perfluorocarboxylic acids as a rational clue, strategies to enhance intersystem crossing process efficiencies of the photodegradation of perfluorocarboxylic acids can be developed.

Enhanced degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid using dielectric barrier discharge with La/Ce-doped TiO2

A synergistic system of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) combined with La/Ce-TiO₂ was developed to investigate the decomposition performance of the environmentally persistent perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The La/Ce-TiO₂ was modified by sol-gel method and characterized by XRD, SEM, and energy dispersive X-ray. The effects of PFOA concentration, applied voltage, initial pH, liquid conductivity, and additives on the removal rate of PFOA were explored. The results showed that the La/Ce-TiO₂ exhibited excellent catalytic effects on PFOA degradation in DBD system. When the applied voltage, PFOA concentration, pH value, and solution volume were 75 V, 100 mg/L, 3.63, and 1000 mL, respectively, the removal efficiency of PFOA was up to 97.5% by adding La₄Ce₁-TiO₂ in DBD. The corresponding defluorination ratio, TOC removal, and decomposition yield were 62.2%, 57.3%, and 37 g/kWh, respectively. Furthermore, five main intermediates including CF₃(CF₂)₆H, CF₃(CF₂)₅COOH, CF₃(CF₂)₅COH, CF₃(CF₂)₄COOH, and CF₃CF₂CF₃ were identified with LC-MS, and the degradation pathways of PFOA were proposed. The degradation mechanisms revealed that hydroxyl radicals play a significant role in the degradation of PFOA in the synergistic system.

Phenolic wastewaters depuration by electrochemical oxidation process using Ti/IrO2 anodes

The electrochemical oxidation (EO) of phenolic wastewaters mimicking olive oil mill effluents was carried out in a batch stirring reactor using Ti/IrO₂ anodes, varying the nature (NaCl and Na₂SO₄) and electrolyte concentration (1.8-20 g L^-1), current density (57-119 mA cm^-2) and initial pH (3.4-9). Phenolic content (TPh) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removals were monitored as a function of applied charge and over time. The nature of the electrolyte greatly affected the efficiency of the system, followed by the influence of the current density. The NaCl concentration and the initial pH influenced the process in a lesser extent. The best operating conditions achieved were 10 g L^-1 of NaCl, current density of 119 mA cm^-2 and initial pH of 3.4. These parameters led to 100 and 84.8% of TPh and COD removal, respectively. Under these conditions, some morphological differences were observed by SEM on the surface of the anode after treatment. To study the potential toxicity of the synthetic effluent in neuronal activity, this mixture was applied to rat brain slices prior to and after EO. The results indicate that although the treated effluent causes a smaller depression of the neuronal reactive oxygen species (ROS) signal than the untreated one, it leads to a potentiation instead of recovery, upon washout. Furthermore, the purification of a real olive mill wastewater (OMW), with the organic load of the synthetic effluent, using the same optimised operating conditions, achieved total phenolic compounds abatement and 62.8% of COD removal.This study demonstrates the applicability of this EO as a pre-treatment process of a real effluent, in order to achieve the legal limit values to be discharged into natural streams regarding its organic load.

Highly efficient and stable Zr-doped nanocrystalline PbO2 electrode for mineralization of perfluorooctanoic acid in a sequential treatment system

Zr-doped nanocrystalline PbO₂ (Zr-PbO₂) film electrodes were prepared at different bath temperatures. The Zr-PbO₂ electrode doped at 75°C (75-Zr-PbO₂) featured high oxygen evolution overpotential, large effective area and good electrocatalytic performance. The oxygen evolution potential and the effective area of 75-Zr-PbO₂ achieved 1.91V (vs. SCE) and 9.1cm², respectively. The removal efficiency and the defluorination ratio of PFOA reached 97.0% and 88.1% after 90min electrolysis. The primary mineralization products (i.e., F^- and intermediates) and their change trends were determined. The 75-Zr-PbO₂ electrode was introduced to sequentially treat the PFOA wastewater. In an 116h of 75-Zr-PbO₂ electrocatalysis sequential process, the PFOA, PFHpA, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFBA, PFPrA, TFA, and TOC concentrations were reduced to below 30, 2.5, 1.3, 1.0, 0.5, 0.2, 0.1, and 9mgL^-1, respectively, demonstrating the promising application of the sequential treatment system for the treatment of PFOA wastewater.

Experimental and theoretical insights into the photochemical decomposition of environmentally persistent perfluorocarboxylic acids

Decomposition of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) is of great significance due to their global distribution, persistence and toxicity to organisms. In this study, the photodegradation of a series of PFCAs (∼C2C12) in water by a medium-pressure mercury lamp was experimentally and theoretically examined. We found that photolysis of PFCAs all follow pseudo-first-order kinetics with the rate constant (k_app) increasing with carbon chain lengths, except for trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) which cannot be degraded by the polychromatic irradiation. Product analysis showed that the PFCAs were mainly decomposed into shorter carbon chain length PFCAs in a stepwise manner, with the accumulation of TFA and fluoride ions as the end products. Moreover, a small amount of perfluoroolefins (C_nF_2n) was determined as gas-phase products. Wiberg bond order calculations confirmed the cleavage of the CC bond between carboxylic carbon and the adjacent carbon as the first reaction step, and density functional theory-based calculations revealed that k_app value is correlated with some molecular structural parameters. In the case of mixture irradiation, the evolution profiles of individual PFCAs were different from that in single-component systems, due to the dynamic balance between production and degradation. This work reveals the main molecular descriptors controlling the degradation rate of different PFCAs species, and improves the general understanding on the photodegradation mechanisms, which will provide useful information for future researches.

Photoinduced Hydrodefluorination Mechanisms of Perfluorooctanoic Acid by the SiC/Graphene Catalyst

Cleavage of the strong carbon-fluorine bonds is critical for elimination of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from the environment. In this work, we investigated the decomposition of PFOA with the SiC/graphene catalyst under UV light irradiation. The decomposition rate constant (k) with SiC/graphene was 0.096 h(-1), 2.2 times higher than that with commercial nano-TiO2. Surface fluorination on SiC/graphene was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), revealing the conversions of Si-H bonds into Si-F bonds. A different route was found to generate the reactive Si-H bonds on SiC/graphene, substituting for silylium (R3Si(+)) to activate C-F bonds. During the activation process, photogenerated electrons on SiC transfer rapidly to perfluoroalkyl groups by the medium of graphene, further reducing the electron cloud density of C-F bonds to promote the activation. The hydrogen-containing hydrodefluorination intermediates including (CF3(CF2)2CFH, CF3(CF2)3CH2, CF3(CF2)4CH2, and CF3(CF2)4CFHCOOH) were detected to verify the hydrodefluorination process. The photoinduced hydrodefluorination mechanisms of PFOA can be consequently inferred as follows: (1) fluorine atoms in perfluoroalkyl groups were replaced by hydrogen atoms due to the nucleophilic substitution reaction via the Si-H/C-F redistribution, and (2) generation of CH2 carbene from the hydrogen-containing perfluoroalkyl groups and the C-C bonds scission by the Photo-Kolbe decarboxylation reaction under UV light excitation. This photoinduced hydrodefluorination provides insight into the photocatalytic decomposition of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) in an aqueous environment.

Temperature effect on photolysis decomposing of perfluorooctanoic acid

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is recalcitrant to degrade and mineralize. Here, the effect of temperature on the photolytic decomposition of PFOA was investigated. The decomposition of PFOA was enhanced from 34% to 99% in 60 min of exposure when the temperature was increased from 25 to 85°C under UV light (201-600 nm). The limited degree of decomposition at 25°C was due to low quantum yield, which was increased by a factor of 12 at 85°C. Under the imposed conditions, the defluorination ratio increased from 8% at 25°C to 50% at 85°C in 60 min. Production of perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs, C7-C5), PFCAs (C4-C3) and TFA (trifluoroacetic acid, C2) accelerated and attained a maximum within 30 to 90 min at 85°C. However, these reactions did not occur at 25°C despite extended irradiation to 180 min. PFOA was decomposed in a step-wise process by surrendering one CF2 unit. In each cyclical process, increased temperature enhanced the quantum yields of irradiation and reactions between water molecules and intermediates radicals. The energy consumption for removing each μmol of PFOA was reduced from 82.5 kJ at 25°C to 10.9 kJ at 85°C using photolysis. Photolysis coupled with heat achieved high rates of PFOA degradation and defluorination.

Ozonation of the UV filter benzophenone-4 in aquatic environments: Intermediates and pathways

The occurrence of benzophenone-4 (BP-4) in water environments may pose a serious public health hazard due to its potential endocrine disrupting effects. In this work, the intermediates, probable degradation pathways and toxicity changes during ozonation of BP-4 in aqueous solution were systematically investigated. Results revealed that alkaline conditions favored the oxidation of BP-4. However, inorganic anions (Cl(-), NO3(-), SO4(2-)), cations (K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+)) and humic acid had no remarkable effect on BP-4 removal within the tested concentrations. Ozonation was also effective for the fast removal of BP-4 in real waters. The TOC suggested a low mineralization rate, even after the complete BP-4 removal. Meanwhile, the treated mixtures exhibited an obvious inhibition to the bioluminescent bacteria Photobacterium phosphoreum, indicating the formation of transformation products with higher toxicities. Furthermore, fourteen products were identified by means of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Notably, seven of them have not been reported previously. The quenching test indicated that the degradation processes probably were dominated by OH. Next, possible degradation pathways were proposed and further justified by theoretical calculations of frontier electron densities. This investigation will contribute to the systematic elucidation of the ozonation process of UV filters in aquatic environments.

Electrochemical oxidation of perfluorinated compounds in water

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are persistent and refractory organic pollutants that have been detected in various environmental matrices and municipal wastewater. Electrochemical oxidation (EO) is a promising remediation technique for wastewater contaminated with PFCs. A number of recent studies have demonstrated that the "non-active" anodes, including boron-doped diamond, tin oxide, and lead dioxide, are effective in PFCs elimination in wastewater due to their high oxygen evolution potential. Many researchers have conducted experiments to investigate the optimal conditions (i.e., potential, current density, pH value, plate distance, initial PFCs concentration, electrolyte, and other factors) for PFCs elimination to obtain the maximal elimination efficiency and current efficiency. The EO mechanism and pathways of PFCs have been clearly elucidated, which undergo electron transfer, Kolbe decarboxylation or desulfonation, hydrolysis, and radical reaction. In addition, the safety evaluation and energy consumption evaluation of the EO technology have also been summarized to decrease toxic ion release from electrode and reduce the cost of this technique. Although the ultrasonication and hydrothermal techniques combined with the EO process can improve the removal efficiency and current efficiency significantly, these coupled techniques have not been commercialized and applied in industrial wastewater treatment. Finally, key challenges facing EO technology are listed and the directions for further research are pointed out (such as combination with other techniques, treatment for natural waters contaminated by low levels of PFCs, and reactor design).

Mineralization of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorodecanoate (PFDA) from aqueous solution by porous hexagonal boron nitride: adsorption followed by simultaneous thermal decomposition and regeneration

Some poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are of global concern due to their toxicity, high persistency, bioaccumulation, and worldwide occurrence.

Addition of nitrite enhances the electrochemical defluorination of 2-fluoroaniline

This study introduces a novel approach that uses the interaction of pollutants with added nitrite to produce diazonium salts, which cause in situ self-assembly of the pollutants on carbon electrodes, to improve their 2-fluoroaniline (2-FA) defluorination and removal performance. The 2-FA degradation performance, electrode properties, electrochemical properties and degradation pathway were investigated. The reactor containing NO2(-) achieved a 2-FA removal efficiency of 90.1% and a defluorination efficiency of 38% within 48 h, 1.4 and 2.3 times higher than the corresponding results achieved without NO2(-), respectively. The residual NO2(-) was less than 0.5mg/L in the reactor containing added NO2(-), which would not cause serious secondary pollution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results proved that the carbon anode surface was successfully modified with benzene polymer, and electrochemical tests confirmed that the electrochemical activity of the modified anode was enhanced significantly. The C-F bond was weakened by the effect of the positive charge of the benzenediazonium groups, and the high electrochemical activity of the carbon anode enhanced the electrochemical performance of the system to accelerate defluorination. Thus, the present electrical method involving nitrite nitrogen is very promising for the treatment of wastewater containing fluoroaniline compounds.

Highly efficient electrochemical degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) by F-doped Ti/SnO2 electrode

The novel F-doped Ti/SnO2 electrode prepared by SnF4 as the single-source precursor was used for electrochemical degradation of aqueous perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Higher oxidation reactivity and significantly longer service life were achieved for Ti/SnO2-F electrode than Ti/SnO2-X (X=Cl, Br, I, or Sb) electrode, which could decomposed over 99% of PFOA (50 mL of 100 mg L(-1)) within 30-min electrolysis. The property of Ti/SnO2-F electrode and its electrooxidation mechanism were investigated by XRD, SEM-EDX, EIS, LSV, and interfacial resistance measurements. We propose that the similar ionic radii of F and O as well as strong electronegativity of F caused its electrochemical stability with high oxygen evolution potential (OEP) and smooth surface to generate weakly adsorbed OH. The preparation conditions of electrode were also optimized including F doping amount, calcination temperature, and dip coating times, which revealed the formation process of electrode. Additionally, the major mineralization product, F(-), and low concentration of shorter chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) were detected in solution. So the reaction pathway of PFOA electrooxidation was proposed by intermediate analysis. These results demonstrate that Ti/SnO2-F electrode is promising for highly efficient treatment of PFOA in wastewater.

Rapid Removal of Tetrabromobisphenol A by Ozonation in Water: Oxidation Products, Reaction Pathways and Toxicity Assessment

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is one of the most widely used brominated flame retardants and has attracted more and more attention. In this work, the parent TBBPA with an initial concentration of 100 mg/L was completely removed after 6 min of ozonation at pH 8.0, and alkaline conditions favored a more rapid removal than acidic and neutral conditions. The presence of typical anions and humic acid did not significantly affect the degradation of TBBPA. The quenching test using isopropanol indicated that direct ozone oxidation played a dominant role during this process. Seventeen reaction intermediates and products were identified using an electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Notably, the generation of 2,4,6-tribromophenol was first observed in the degradation process of TBBPA. The evolution of reaction products showed that ozonation is an efficient treatment for removal of both TBBPA and intermediates. Sequential transformation of organic bromine to bromide and bromate was confirmed by ion chromatography analysis. Two primary reaction pathways that involve cleavage of central carbon atom and benzene ring cleavage concomitant with debromination were thus proposed and further justified by calculations of frontier electron densities. Furthermore, the total organic carbon data suggested a low mineralization rate, even after the complete removal of TBBPA. Meanwhile, the acute aqueous toxicity of reaction solutions to Photobacterium Phosphoreum and Daphnia magna was rapidly decreased during ozonation. In addition, no obvious difference in the attenuation of TBBPA was found by ozone oxidation using different water matrices, and the effectiveness in natural waters further demonstrates that ozonation can be adopted as a promising technique to treat TBBPA-contaminated waters.

Uptake of perfluoroalkyl acids in the leaves of coniferous and deciduous broad-leaved trees

Analytical methods for determining perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in leaves were developed to quantify a suite of analytes in both coniferous and deciduous broad-leaved trees. Sodium hydroxide-methanol and solid-phase extraction was selected as the extracting and cleanup strategy for PFAA analysis. Ten perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and 4 perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs) were monitored in 7 kinds of leaves grown in the urban areas of Dalian, China. The results show that coniferous tree leaves take up more PFAAs than broad-leaved tree leaves, with the highest amount of 150 ng/g in pine needles. Leaf PFCA levels were much higher than PFSAs level. Short carbon-chain PFCAs with 3 to 6 perfluorinated carbons account for approximately 40% to 80% of the total leaf PFAAs, where uptake decreased with increasing carbon chain length. Temporal observation of leaf PFAAs revealed no significant variation of concentrations in the leaves over a weekly interval and the absence of significant seasonal change in pine needles and sophora. The present study provides some evidence for the accumulation of PFAAs in leaves, which is valuable for understanding their environmental behavior and the development of alternative bioindicator.

Kinetics of the electrochemical mineralization of perfluorooctanoic acid on ultrananocrystalline boron doped conductive diamond electrodes

This work deals with the electrochemical degradation and mineralization of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Model aqueous solutions of PFOA (100mg/L) were electro-oxidized under galvanostatic conditions in a flow-by undivided cell provided with a tungsten cathode and an anode formed by a commercial ultrananocrystalline boron doped diamond (BDD) coating on a niobium substrate. A systematic experimental study was conducted in order to analyze the influence of the following operation variables: (i) the supporting electrolyte, NaClO4 (1.4 and 8.4g/L) and Na2SO4 (5g/L); (ii) the applied current density, japp, in the range 50-200 A/m(2) and (iii) the hydrodynamic conditions, in terms of flowrate in the range 0.4×10(-4)-1.7×10(-4)m(3)/s and temperature in the range 293-313K. After 6h of treatment and at japp 200A/m(2), PFOA removal was higher than 93% and the mineralization ratio, obtained from the decrease of the total organic carbon (TOC) was 95%. The electrochemical generation of hydroxyl radicals in the supporting electrolyte was experimentally measured based on their reaction with dimethyl sulfoxide. The enhanced formation of hydroxyl radicals at higher japp was related to the faster kinetics of PFOA removal. The fitting of experimental data to the proposed kinetic model provided the first order rate constants of PFOA degradation, kc(1) that moved from 2.06×10(-4) to 15.58×10(-4)s(-1), when japp varied from 50 to 200A/m(2).