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Khair Biek S, Khudur LS, Askeland M, Jones J, Sundararajan K, Lakshminarayanan S, Ball AS. Fate of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances through commercial composting facilities. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2025; 428:132485. [PMID: 40187501 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2025] [Revised: 04/02/2025] [Accepted: 04/02/2025] [Indexed: 04/07/2025]
Abstract
Rising concerns about solid waste management globally necessitate the adoption of sustainable practices, particularly in dealing with organic waste, which constitutes a significant portion of municipal solid waste (MSW). Composting is an effective waste management strategy that can reduce both the environmental impact and greenhouse gas emissions of organic wastes, while producing valuable organic material (compost) for soil enhancement. However, the presence of persistent contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in compost poses environmental and human health risks, challenging the sustainable management of organic wastes. This study investigates the fate of 33 PFAS compounds in two composting systems-windrow and in-vessel-focusing on the transformation and persistence of these compounds through the composting process, with the aim of collecting information which will support the identification of strategies to mitigate PFAS contamination in composting practices. The findings indicate significant reductions in total PFAS concentrations after composting, with reductions of 88.3% and 86.3% in the windrow and in-vessel systems, respectively. Notably, certain PFAS compounds, such as PFBS, appeared after composting, while PFPeA, became undetectable, suggesting potential leaching or transformation. Across both leachate and dust samples, PFAS concentrations were relatively low, with only a few compounds detected in each matrix. The final compost products met Australia's proposed NEMP 3.0 guidelines. However, considering the variation in PFAS content within similar categories of waste (feedstock), compliance with regulatory limits may vary. These results highlight the need for continued research into PFAS behaviour during composting and the development of best practices to mitigate contamination risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sali Khair Biek
- ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia; School of Science, STEM Collage, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia.
| | - Leadin S Khudur
- ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia; School of Science, STEM Collage, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia.
| | - Matthew Askeland
- ADE Consulting Group Pty Ltd, Williamstown North, VIC 3016, Australia.
| | - Jacob Jones
- ADE Consulting Group Pty Ltd, Williamstown North, VIC 3016, Australia.
| | | | | | - Andrew S Ball
- ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia; School of Science, STEM Collage, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia.
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2
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Shi YB, Hua ZL, Chen ZW. Response of the rhizosphere microenvironment to per(poly)fluoroalkyl substance partitioning induced by submerge-emerge alternation. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2025; 387:125914. [PMID: 40408856 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2025] [Revised: 05/13/2025] [Accepted: 05/19/2025] [Indexed: 05/25/2025]
Abstract
Per(poly)fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent pollutants with significant environmental risks. However, their partitioning behavior and ecological impacts under dynamic hydrological conditions remain unclear. Our study examined PFAS release, transport, bioaccumulation, and rhizosphere microenvironment responses under submerge-emerge alternation (ASE) compared to continued submergence (CS) and emergence (CE) through indoor simulations. Results showed that ASE significantly promoted the transport and bioaccumulation of PFASs in plant roots. The total PFAS concentration in ASE sediment was 1.54 times that in CS and 0.66 times that in CE at the end of the experiment. The Log bioconcentration factors (Log BCFs) in ASE ranged from -1.09 to 1.02 kg/L, significantly higher than in CS (-1.23 to 0.58 kg/L) and CE (-0.79 to 0.26 kg/L). Substitutes exhibited higher Log BCFs compared to PFOA and PFOS, especially PFBA and PFHxS. Metabolomic analysis revealed that PFAS partitioning under alternating conditions induced the remodeling of root exudates (REs), significantly increasing the secretion of organic acids (9.23 %) and carbohydrates (2.20 %) while decreasing the relative abundance of lipids (24.41 %). Additionally, PFAS partitioning under ASE reduced the abundance of Pseudomonadota (18.10 %) while notably increasing the abundance of Patescibacteria (5.84 %), Thermodesulfobacteriota (4.30 %), and Sphingomonas (1.18 %) in rhizosphere microorganisms (RMs). Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that ASE strengthened the interactions between REs and RMs. Both the mediation of REs and the central role of dominant bacteria within the network were enhanced. Our study elucidates PFAS partitioning behavior under hydrological fluctuations and provides important insights into the management of rhizosphere pollution in submerge-emerge alternating regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye-Bing Shi
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
| | - Zu-Lin Hua
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China; Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Nanjing, 210098, PR China.
| | - Zi-Wei Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
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3
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Alulema-Pullupaxi P, Zhang Y, Saleh NB, Venkatesan A, Apul OG. Analyzing the Release of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Spent Granular Activated Carbons by Standard Leaching Procedures. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2025; 59:8681-8693. [PMID: 40272232 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c12093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2025]
Abstract
The recent national primary drinking water regulation for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is expected to drive a nationwide increase in granular activated carbon (GAC) usage in water treatment facilities across the United States. Proper management of PFAS-laden GAC waste streams is essential to prevent potential recontamination. This study systematically evaluates PFOA and PFOS leaching from four commercial GACs using three standard batch leaching procedures. Our findings indicate that PFOA leached 1-2 orders of magnitude more than PFOS across all GAC types and leaching procedures. In general, PFAS leaching was more notable for alkaline leaching conditions, especially for wood-based GAC. Additionally, real groundwater spiked with an 8 PFAS mixture was used to load GAC for leaching propensity demonstration, and similar conclusions were reached, where leaching was generally greater for shorter-chain and more hydrophilic PFAS. PFBA exhibited the highest leaching (10.4%), followed by GenX (0.91%) and PFBS (0.75%), while minimal desorption (<0.02%) was observed for long-chain PFOA, PFOS, PFOSA, and PFNA. The study concluded that a complex interplay of multiple interactions between the GAC surface, PFAS molecules, and constituents of leaching solutions controls leaching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Alulema-Pullupaxi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04473, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Yi Zhang
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
| | - Navid B Saleh
- Fariborz Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Arjun Venkatesan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
| | - Onur G Apul
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04473, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
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4
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Costanza J, Clabaugh CD, Leibli C, Ferreira J, Wilkin RT. Using Suction Lysimeters for Determining the Potential of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances to Leach from Soil to Groundwater: A Review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2025; 59:4215-4229. [PMID: 40013763 PMCID: PMC11984638 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c10246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2025]
Abstract
In-situ porewater samples were proposed to best represent the fraction of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with the potential to migrate to groundwater. While there are many techniques for collecting porewater samples, suction lysimeters are frequently being used for PFAS investigations. Suction lysimeters use vacuum to extract porewater from vadose zone soils, typically fine to medium sands, which retain and release enough porewater for analysis. Importantly, determining the rate of PFAS migration to groundwater requires an independent measure of water percolation. This review covers the installation and sampling methods for suction lysimeters and provides suggestions to improve the utility and reduce the variability of the results. Because the volume of soil represented by the porewater sample varies significantly depending on the soil-water content, which is spatially and temporally variable, many suction lysimeters may be required to accurately represent soil heterogeneity. A similar limitation applies to soil or leaching protocol samples. Suction lysimeters may not provide a representative sample for all PFAS due to interactions with lysimeter materials, air-water interfaces, and the use of vacuum. Consequently, lysimeter data are best applied in combination with soil-leaching protocols, groundwater transects, and soil analysis when making remedial decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jed Costanza
- Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. 20460, United States
| | - Charles D Clabaugh
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, Seattle, Washington 98101, United States
| | - Christa Leibli
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, Denver, Colorado 80202, United States
| | - James Ferreira
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - Richard T Wilkin
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ada, Oklahoma 74820, United States
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5
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Shea SM, Schaefer CE, Illangasekare T, Higgins CP. Release of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances from AFFF-impacted soils: Effects of water saturation in vadose zone soils. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2025; 269:104506. [PMID: 39854994 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2025.104506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2024] [Revised: 12/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2025] [Indexed: 01/27/2025]
Abstract
Soil samples collected from an aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF)-impacted sandy soil formation at two depth intervals above the water table were used in bench-scale column experiments to evaluate the release of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) under different degrees of water saturation. Artificial rainwater was applied to the soils under constant and variably saturated conditions. Results from constant saturation experiments suggest that retention of PFAS mass at air-water interfaces was evident in the deep soil (foc < 0.00068 g/g), particularly for longer chain and zwitterionic compounds, while PFAS mass release from the shallow soil (foc = 0.0034 g/g) was consistent with kinetically controlled desorption from the soil. The release profiles for the perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides (FASAs) differed from other PFASs examined, with more FASAs generally being eluted under fully saturated conditions from both the shallow and deep soils. Importantly, variably saturated conditions resulted in more PFAS eluting from the soils: the average release rate of PFHxS from both soils was 10-fold higher under variably saturated conditions than under constant conditions. Both soils retained significant fractions of the total PFAS mass even after extensive flushing (51-83.8 % for PFOS). These results suggest that PFAS transport in vadose zone soils is influenced by air-water interfaces, but solid-phase desorption also plays a role. Overall, these results are consistent with observations in the field and serve to confirm key mechanisms that control PFAS leaching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie M Shea
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois St, Golden, CO 80401, USA
| | | | - Tissa Illangasekare
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois St, Golden, CO 80401, USA
| | - Christopher P Higgins
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois St, Golden, CO 80401, USA.
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6
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Peter L, Modiri‐Gharehveran M, Alvarez‐Campos O, Evanylo GK, Lee LS. PFAS fate using lysimeters during degraded soil reclamation using biosolids. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2025; 54:41-53. [PMID: 38816342 PMCID: PMC11718147 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Carbon- and nutrient-rich biosolids are used in agriculture and land reclamation. However, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) typically present in biosolids raise concerns of PFAS leaching to groundwater and plant uptake. Here, we investigated PFAS persistence and leaching from biosolids applied to a site constructed artificially to mimic degraded soils. Treatments included biosolids and biosolids blended with mulch applied at different rates to attain either one and five times the agronomic N rate for vegetable crops and a control treatment with synthetic urea and triple superphosphate fertilizer. Leachates were collected for a 2-year period from 15-cm depth zero-tension drainage lysimeters. Soils were analyzed post biosolids application. PFAS were quantified using isotope-dilution, solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Leachate profiles exemplified an initial high total PFAS concentration, followed by a sharp decline and subsequent small fluctuations attributed to pre-existing soil conditions and rainfall patterns. Quantifiable PFAS in leachate were proportional to biosolids application rates. Short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (CF2 < 6) were dominant in leachate, while the percentage of longer chains homologues was higher in soils. A 43% biosolids blend with mulch resulted in 21% lower PFAS leachate concentrations even with the blend application rate being 1.5 times higher than biosolids due to the blend's lower N-content. The blending effect was more pronounced for long-chain perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids that have a greater retention by soils and the air-water interface. Biosolids blending as a pragmatic strategy for reducing PFAS leachate concentrations may aid in the sustainable beneficial reuse of biosolids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynda Peter
- Department of Agronomy, Ecological Sciences & Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate ProgramPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIndianaUSA
| | - Mahsa Modiri‐Gharehveran
- Environmental & Ecological EngineeringPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIndianaUSA
- EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBCHunt ValleyMarylandUSA
| | - Odiney Alvarez‐Campos
- USAIDWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
- School of Plant and Environmental SciencesVirginia TechBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
| | - Gregory K. Evanylo
- School of Plant and Environmental SciencesVirginia TechBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
| | - Linda S. Lee
- Department of Agronomy, Ecological Sciences & Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate ProgramPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIndianaUSA
- Environmental & Ecological EngineeringPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIndianaUSA
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7
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Srivastava P, Douglas G, Davis GB, Kookana RS, Nguyen CTT, Williams M, Bowles K, Kirby JK. Leachability of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances from contaminated concrete. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2024; 26:2227-2239. [PMID: 39498763 DOI: 10.1039/d4em00482e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2024]
Abstract
The historical use and storage of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) containing per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at a range of sites including airports, defence, and port facilities have resulted in a legacy of contaminated infrastructure such as concrete. Contaminated concrete constitutes an ongoing source of PFAS contamination requiring management to ensure the protection of human health and the environment. In this study, modified Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework (LEAF) and Australian Standard Leaching Procedure (ASLP) were used to examine the leachability of PFAS, specifically, perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) from AFFF-contaminated concrete collected from an Australian Defence Fire Training Area (FTA). In general, PFAS readily leached from intact contaminated concrete monoliths with the cumulative proportion (%) decreasing in the order: PFHxA (>95%) > PFOS (26-84%) ≈ PFHxS (14-78%) > PFOA (<1-54%). Higher leachability for PFHxA from concrete is consistent with previous findings for solids, however, inconsistent for PFOA with higher retention (lower leachability) in concrete as compared to PFOS. Duration of exposure to water (0.5-48 h) and temperature (25 °C and 50 °C) had little influence on the proportion of PFAS leachability from powdered concrete. A higher proportion of PFAS leached from a <2 mm concrete powder size fraction as compared to 2-20 mm and 20 mm size fractions. This behavior reflects an increase in surface area with decreasing concrete particle size. Reducing the particle size could enhance PFAS removal from waste concrete.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant Srivastava
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Environment Research Unit, Industry Environments Program, Waite Campus, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia.
| | - Grant Douglas
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Environment Research Unit, Industry Environments Program, 7 Conlon St., Waterford, WA 6152, Australia
| | - Greg B Davis
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Environment Research Unit, Industry Environments Program, 7 Conlon St., Waterford, WA 6152, Australia
| | - Rai S Kookana
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Environment Research Unit, Industry Environments Program, Waite Campus, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia.
| | - Canh Tien Trinh Nguyen
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Environment Research Unit, Industry Environments Program, Waite Campus, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia.
| | - Mike Williams
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Environment Research Unit, Industry Environments Program, Waite Campus, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia.
| | - Karl Bowles
- Jacobs, L7/177 Pacific Hwy, North Sydney, 2060, Australia
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Jason K Kirby
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Environment Research Unit, Industry Environments Program, Waite Campus, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia.
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Li W, Tanaka S, Kitaji Y, Hashikomi S, Xu Y, Ikeo T. Remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminated soil via soil washing with various water-organic solvents. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 480:135943. [PMID: 39332255 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 09/14/2024] [Accepted: 09/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024]
Abstract
The feasibility of soil washing for remediating PFAS-contaminated clay soil using various water-organic solvents was systematically investigated based on the combination of batch and column tests. Batch tests using 22 types of solvents highlighted that 0 % (water) and 5 % solvents could effectively extract PFCAs (≤ C9), while long-chain PFCAs (≥ C10) and PFSAs required 80 % solvents for optimal extraction, with efficiency in the order of EtOH ≤ MeOH < Acetonitrile (ACN), suggesting a strong correlation with carbon chain lengths and functional head groups. Column tests with six selected washing solutions indicated rapid desorption of PFOA and PFOS initially, peaking at liquid-to-solid (L/S) ratios of 3-4 for 0 % and 5 % solutions, and at an L/S ratio of 1 for 80 % solutions. To remediate 1 kg-dry soil to meet the legislatively permissible levels for groundwater in Japan (PFOA + PFOS < 50 ng/L), 11 L of 0 % solution (water) or 5 L of 80 % ACN are required for washing out PFOA, while 62 L of 0 % solution (water) or 53 L of 80 % ACN for PFOS. Future research should address the treatment of PFAS-rich wastewater generated from washing PFAS-contaminated soils and the impacts of washing solutions on soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjiao Li
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
| | - Shuhei Tanaka
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yuta Kitaji
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Shutaro Hashikomi
- Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yiming Xu
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Takuma Ikeo
- Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
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9
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Wang X, Huang X, Zhi Y, Liu X, Wang Q, Yue D, Wang X. Leaching of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from food contact materials with implications for waste disposal. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 479:135658. [PMID: 39226686 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 08/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Leaching of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during the post-consumer disposal of food contact materials (FCMs) poses a potential environmental threat but has seldom been evaluated. This study characterized the leaching behavior of PFAS and unidentified precursors from six common FCMs and assessed the impact of environmental conditions on PFAS release during disposal. The total concentration of 21 PFAS ranged from 3.2 to 377 ng/g in FCMs, with PFAS leachability into water varying between 1.1-42.8 %. Increasing temperature promoted PFAS leaching, with leached nine primary PFAS (∑9PFAS) reaching 46.3, 70.4, and 102 ng/L at 35, 45, and 55 ℃, respectively. Thermodynamic analysis (∆G>0, ∆H>0, and ∆S<0) indicated hydrophobic interactions control PFAS leaching. The presence of dissolved organic matter in synthetic leachate increased the leached ∑9PFAS from 47.1 to 103 ng/L but decreased PFBS, PFOS, and 6:2 FTS leaching. The total release of seven perfluorocarboxylic acids (∑7PFCAs) from takeaway food packaging waste was estimated to be 0.3-8.2 kg/y to landfill leachate and 0.6-15.4 kg/y to incineration plant leachate, contributing 0.2-4.8 % and 0.1-3.2 % of total ∑7PFCAs in each leachate type. While the study presents a refined methodology for estimating PFAS release during disposal, future research is needed on the indirect contribution from precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Wang
- College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment Under Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Xingyao Huang
- College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Yue Zhi
- College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment Under Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Xuemei Liu
- College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Qian Wang
- College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment Under Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Dongbei Yue
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment Under Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
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10
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Cáceres T, Jones R, Kastury F, Juhasz AL. Soil amendments reduce PFAS bioaccumulation in Eisenia fetida following exposure to AFFF-impacted soil. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 358:124489. [PMID: 38960119 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
The efficacy of RemBind® 300 to immobilize per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aqueous film forming foam (AFFF)-impacted soil (∑28 PFAS 1280-8130 ng g-1; n = 8) was assessed using leachability (ASLP) and bioaccumulation (Eisenia fetida) endpoints as the measure of efficacy. In unamended soil, ∑28 PFAS leachability ranged from 26.0 to 235 μg l-1, however, following the addition of 5% w/w RemBind® 300, ∑28 PFAS leachability was reduced by > 99%. Following exposure of E. fetida to unamended soil, ∑28 PFAS bioaccumulation ranged from 18,660-241,910 ng g-1 DW with PFOS accumulating to the greatest extent (15,150-212,120 ng g-1 DW). Biota soil accumulation factors (BSAF) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher for perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSA; 13.2-50.9) compared to perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCA; 1.2-12.7) while for individual PFSA, mean BSAF increased for C4 to C6 compounds (PFBS: 42.6; PFPeS: 52.7; PFHxS: 62.4). In contrast, when E. fetida were exposed to soil amended with 5% w/w RemBind® 300, significantly lower PFAS bioaccumulation occurred (∑28 PFAS: 339-3397 ng g-1 DW) with PFOS accumulation 23-246 fold lower compared to unamended soil. These results highlight the potential of soil amendments for reducing PFAS mobility and bioavailability, offering an immobilization-based risk management approach for AFFF-impacted soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Cáceres
- Future Industries Institute, UniSA, STEM, University of South Australia, Building X, Mawson Lakes Campus, Adelaide, SA, 5095, Australia
| | - Ruby Jones
- Future Industries Institute, UniSA, STEM, University of South Australia, Building X, Mawson Lakes Campus, Adelaide, SA, 5095, Australia
| | - Farzana Kastury
- Future Industries Institute, UniSA, STEM, University of South Australia, Building X, Mawson Lakes Campus, Adelaide, SA, 5095, Australia
| | - Albert L Juhasz
- Future Industries Institute, UniSA, STEM, University of South Australia, Building X, Mawson Lakes Campus, Adelaide, SA, 5095, Australia.
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11
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Ma T, Luo H, Sun J, Dang Z, Lu G. The effect of heavy precipitation on the leaching of heavy metals from tropical coastal legacy tailings. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 186:1-10. [PMID: 38833785 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.05.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
The continued growth in demand for mineral resources has led to a large amount of mining wastes, which is a major challenge in the context of carbon neutrality and climate change. In this study, runoff migration, batch leaching, and column experiments were used to investigate the short-, medium-, and long-term leaching of heavy metals from legacy tailings, respectively; the cumulative metal release kinetic equations were established, and the long-term effects of tailings leaching were verified by HYDRUS-1D. In runoff migration experiments, surface dissolution of tailings and the co-migration of adsorbed soil particles by erosion were the main carriers in the early stages of leachate formation (Mn ∼ 65 mg/L and SO42- up to 2697.2 mg/L). Batch leaching tests showed that the concentration of heavy metals in soil leached by acid rain were 0.1 ∼ 22.0 μg/L for Cr, 0.7 ∼ 26.0 μg/L for Cu, 4.8 ∼ 5646.0 μg/L for Mn, 0.3 ∼ 232.4 μg/L for Ni, and 1.3 ∼ 448.0 μg/L for Zn. The results of column experiments indicated that some soluble components and metals with high mobility showed a significant decreasing trend at cumulative L/S ≤ 2. Additionally, the metals have higher leaching rates under TCLP conditions, as shown by Mn > Co > Zn > Cd > Ni > Cu > Pb > Cr. The fitting results of Langmuir equation were closer to the cumulative release of metals in the real case, and the release amounts of Mn, Zn, Co, and Ni were higher with 55, 5.84, 2.66, and 2.51 mg/kg, respectively. The water flow within tailings affects the spatial distribution of metals, which mainly exist in relatively stable chemical fractions (F3 + F4 + F5 > 90 %) after leaching. Numerical simulation verified that Mn in leachate has reached 8 mg/L at a scale of up to 100 years. The research results are expected to provide technical basis for realizing the resource utilization of tailings in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengfei Ma
- Sinopec Maoming Petrochemical Co., Ltd., Maoming 525000, China; School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hanjin Luo
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jianteng Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Petrochemcial Pollution Processes and Control, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, China
| | - Zhi Dang
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guining Lu
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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12
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Usman M, Chaudhary A, Hanna K. Efficient PFAS removal from contaminated soils through combined washing and adsorption in soil effluents. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:135118. [PMID: 38981229 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
This study investigates soil washing as a viable strategy to remove poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from contaminated soils using various washing agents including water, methanol, ethanol, and cyclodextrin ((2-Hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin HPCD)). Water was less effective (removing only 30 % of PFAS), especially for long-chain hydrophobic PFAS. Methanol (50 % v/v) or HPCD (10 mg g-1 soil) achieved > 95 % PFAS removal regardless of PFAS type, soil size fraction (0-400 µm or 400-800 µm), or experimental setups (batch or column, at liquid/solid (L/S) = 1). Column optimization studies revealed improved efficiency at L/S = 10 with diluted washing solutions, where HPCD exhibited rapid PFAS mobilization even at lower concentrations (1 mg mL-1). We then applied a first-order decay model to effectively predict PFAS breakthrough curves and mobilization within soil columns. Subsequent treatment of wash effluents by activated carbon and biochar effectively reduced PFAS concentrations below detection limits. The performance of both soil washing and subsequent adsorption was found to depend strongly on the specific characteristics of PFAS compounds. These findings highlight the significant potential of methanol and HPCD in soil washing and the effectiveness of integrated soil washing and adsorption for optimizing PFAS removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Usman
- Université de Rennes, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR-UMR 6226, F-35000 Rennes, France.
| | - Aaifa Chaudhary
- Université de Rennes, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR-UMR 6226, F-35000 Rennes, France; Environmental Mineralogy & Chemistry, Center for Applied Geosciences, University of Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Khalil Hanna
- Université de Rennes, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR-UMR 6226, F-35000 Rennes, France.
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13
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Shen L, Zhou J, Ma Y, Su Q, Mao H, Su E, Tang KHD, Wang T, Zhu L. Characterization of the Bioavailability of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Farmland Soils and the Factors Impacting Their Translocation to Edible Plant Tissues. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:15790-15798. [PMID: 39172077 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c04009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
In this study, various crops and farmland soils were collected from the Fen-Wei Plain, China, to investigate the bioavailability of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), their accumulation in edible plant tissues, and the factors impacting their accumulation. PFAS were frequently detected in all of the crops, with total concentrations ranging from 0.61 to 35.8 ng/g. The results of sequential extractions with water, basic methanol, and acidic methanol indicate that water extraction enables to characterize the bioavailability of PFAS in soil to edible plant tissues more accurately, especially for the shorter-chain homologues. The bioavailability of PFAS was remarkably enhanced in the rhizosphere (RS) soil, with the strongest effect observed for leafy vegetables. The water-extracted Σ16PFAS in RS soil was strongly correlated with the content of dissolved organic carbon in the soil. Tannins and lignin, identified as the main components of plant root exudates by Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, were found to enhance the bioavailability of PFAS significantly. Redundancy analysis provided strong evidence that the lipid and protein contents in edible plant tissues play important roles in the accumulation of short- and long-chain PFAS, respectively. Additionally, the high water demand of these tissues during the growth stage greatly facilitated the translocation of PFAS, particularly for the short-chain homologues and perfluorooctanoic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Shen
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - Jian Zhou
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, No. 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Yujing Ma
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - Qian Su
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - Heshun Mao
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - Eryuan Su
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - Kuok Ho Daniel Tang
- Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Tiecheng Wang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, No. 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Lingyan Zhu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, No. 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
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14
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Brahana P, Patel R, Bharti B. Surface Science View of Perfluoroalkyl Acids (PFAAs) in the Environment. ACS ENVIRONMENTAL AU 2024; 4:173-185. [PMID: 39035868 PMCID: PMC11258754 DOI: 10.1021/acsenvironau.3c00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) constitute a notorious category of anthropogenic contaminants, detected across various environmental domains. Among these PFAS, perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) stand out as a focal point in discussions due to their historical industrial utilization and environmental prominence. Their extensive industrial adoption is a direct consequence of their remarkable stability and outstanding amphiphilic properties. However, these very traits that have made PFAAs industrially desirable also render them environmentally catastrophic, leading to adverse consequences for ecosystems. The amphiphilic nature of PFAAs has made them highly unique in the landscape of anthropogenic contaminants and, thereby, difficult to study. We believe that well-established principles from surface science can connect the amphiphilic nature of PFAAs to their accumulation and transport in the environment. Specifically, we discuss the role of interfacial science in describing the stability, interfacial uptake (air-liquid and solid-liquid), and wetting capability of PFAAs. Surface science principles can provide new insights into the environmental fate of PFAAs, as well as provide context on their deleterious effects on both the environment and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip
J. Brahana
- Cain Department of Chemical
Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Ruchi Patel
- Cain Department of Chemical
Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Bhuvnesh Bharti
- Cain Department of Chemical
Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
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15
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Shahrokhi R, Rahman A, Hubbe MA, Park J. Aminated clay-polymer composite as soil amendment for stabilizing the short- and long-chain per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances in contaminated soil. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 472:134470. [PMID: 38714051 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Soils contaminated with per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) require immediate remediation to protect the surrounding environment and human health. A novel animated clay-polymer composite was developed by applying polyethyleneimine (PEI) solution onto a montmorillonite clay-chitosan polymer composite. The resulting product, PEI-modified montmorillonite chitosan beads (MMTCBs) were characterized as an adsorptive soil amendment for immobilizing PFAS contaminants. The MMTCBs exhibited good efficiency to adsorb the PFAS, showing adsorption capacities of 12.2, 16.7, 18.5, and 20.8 mg g-1 for PFBA, PFBS, PFOA, and PFOS, respectively, which were higher than those obtained by granular activated carbon (GAC) (i.e., an adsorbent used as a reference). Column leaching tests demonstrated that amending soil with 10% MMTCBs resulted in a substantial decrease in the leaching of PFOA, PFOS, PFBA, and PFBS by 90%, 100%, 64%, and 68%, respectively. These reductions were comparable to the values obtained for GAC-modified soil, particularly for long-chain PFAS. Incorporating MMTCBs into the soil not only preserved the structural integrity of the soil matrix but also enhanced its shear strength (kPa). Conversely, adding GAC to the soil resulted in a reduction of the soil's mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahim Shahrokhi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Aneesu Rahman
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Martin A Hubbe
- Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, NC, United States
| | - Junboum Park
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Construction and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
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16
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Liu Y, Lin A, Thompson J, Bowden JA, Townsend TG. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in construction and demolition debris (CDD): discerning sources and fate during waste management. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 472:134567. [PMID: 38735190 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
As regulatory frameworks for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) evolve, the solid waste community seeks to manage PFAS risks effectively. Despite extensive research on PFAS in municipal solid waste (MSW) and wastewater sludge, there is limited information on a major global waste stream which seldom gleans regulatory oversight - construction and demolition debris (CDD). This study sampled a CDD processing facility to provide material-specific information on the PFAS profile within CDD. The bulk CDD accepted by this facility was separated into major categories, representatively sampled, then characterized for total available PFAS (∑92PFAS). As reprocessed CDD is ultimately recycled or landfilled, often unencapsulated or in unlined landfills, the PFAS leaching potential was also examined using two leaching procedures. Among the categories assessed for total PFAS, carpeting, carpet padding, and gypsum drywall showed elevated concentrations compared to other components, with most of the PFAS mass contributed by precursor species. However, materials with the highest total PFAS, such as carpeting, did not necessarily exhibit the highest leaching, and leachate was predominantly composed of terminal species rather than precursors. Extrapolating these findings with national CDD generation and management data inventories suggests that despite MSW having higher total available PFAS concentrations, the leachability of PFAS from landfilled CDD is comparable, raising legitimate concerns with CDD disposal practices, particularly in unlined CDD landfills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalan Liu
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA; Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, PO Box 116450, Gainesville, FL 32611-6450, USA
| | - Ashley Lin
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, PO Box 116450, Gainesville, FL 32611-6450, USA
| | - Jake Thompson
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, PO Box 116450, Gainesville, FL 32611-6450, USA
| | - John A Bowden
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, PO Box 116450, Gainesville, FL 32611-6450, USA; Department of Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, 1333 Center Drive, Basic Science Building, Room 324, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Timothy G Townsend
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, PO Box 116450, Gainesville, FL 32611-6450, USA.
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17
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Thompson JT, Lott DJ, Lin AM, Bowden JA, Stuchal L, Townsend TG. Assessing the suitability of leachability-based screening levels for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 928:172430. [PMID: 38621546 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, soil screening levels have been adopted by regulatory agencies for certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to assess the risk of groundwater contamination through leaching. These soil screening levels, determined using an established equilibrium-based partitioning equation, have high variability among regulatory groups largely attributed to the diverse reported partitioning coefficients in the literature. This variability between reported partitioning coefficients, and subsequently soil screening levels, is due to the complex leaching behavior of PFAS not being predicted well by the standard equilibrium-based model. This has led one regulatory group to require batch leaching to assess risk rather than setting default soil screening levels based on partitioning equations. In this work, we conducted leaching experiments on five field-sampled soils impacted by aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF), following Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework (LEAF) Method 1316 and compared the results to expected leaching utilizing an equilibrium-based partitioning equation commonly employed by regulatory agencies to establish soil screening levels. Our analysis found among the six PFAS detected in the soils, which have regulatory leaching thresholds established, the partitioning values assumed by the U.S. EPA exhibited the highest accuracy in predicting leachate concentrations. These partitioning values predicted actual leaching within a ± 20 % margin of error for approximately 50 % of sample points, highlighting limitations in relying solely on equilibrium-based partitioning values as predictors of leaching behavior. This discrepancy between predicted and actual leaching has implications for site managers and regulatory entities overseeing PFAS-contaminated sites, suggesting that soil screening level determinations for PFAS might need to be revised to account for the unique transport characteristics of PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jake T Thompson
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, PO Box 116450, Gainesville, FL 32611-6450, USA.
| | - Dreyton J Lott
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, PO Box 116450, Gainesville, FL 32611-6450, USA.
| | - Ashley M Lin
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, PO Box 116450, Gainesville, FL 32611-6450, USA.
| | - John A Bowden
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 1333 Center Drive, Basic Science Building, Room 324, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| | - Leah Stuchal
- Center for Environmental & Human Toxicology, University of Florida; Gainesville, 2187 Mowry Road, CEHT-Building 471, Room 2, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA.
| | - Timothy G Townsend
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, PO Box 116450, Gainesville, FL 32611-6450, USA.
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18
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Green MP, Shearer C, Patrick R, Kabiri S, Rivers N, Nixon B. The perils of poly- and perfluorinated chemicals on the reproductive health of humans, livestock, and wildlife. Reprod Fertil Dev 2024; 36:RD24034. [PMID: 38744493 DOI: 10.1071/rd24034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a prominent class of persistent synthetic compound. The widespread use of these substances in various industrial applications has resulted in their pervasive contamination on a global scale. It is therefore concerning that PFAS have a propensity to accumulate in bodily tissues whereupon they have been linked with a range of adverse health outcomes. Despite this, the true extent of the risk posed by PFAS to humans, domestic animals, and wildlife remains unclear. Addressing these questions requires a multidisciplinary approach, combining the fields of chemistry, biology, and policy to enable meaningful investigation and develop innovative remediation strategies. This article combines the perspectives of chemists, soil scientists, reproductive biologists, and health policy researchers, to contextualise the issue of PFAS contamination and its specific impact on reproductive health. The purpose of this article is to describe the challenges associated with remediating PFAS-contaminated soils and waters and explore the consequences of PFAS contamination on health and reproduction. Furthermore, current actions to promote planetary health and protect ecosystems are presented to instigate positive social change among the scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Green
- School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia
| | - Cameron Shearer
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Rebecca Patrick
- School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic. 3220, Australia
| | - Shervin Kabiri
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Nicola Rivers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia
| | - Brett Nixon
- Hunter Medical Research Institute Research Program in Infertility and Reproduction, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia; and School of Environmental and Life Sciences, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
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19
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Zhou P, Gu Q, Zhou S, Cui X. A novel montmorillonite clay-cetylpyridinium chloride material for reducing PFAS leachability and bioavailability from soils. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133402. [PMID: 38183937 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Soils contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present a significant threat to both ecological and human health. Extensive research efforts are currently underway to develop effective strategies for immobilizing these chemicals in soils. In this study, calcium montmorillonite was modified with cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC-CM) to enhance its electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions with PFAS. CPC-CM exhibited high adsorption for perfluorooctanoate acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and 8:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acids (8:2 FTSA) across initial concentrations of 50-1000 μg/L, outperforming both the parent CM and L-carnitine modified CM. Soil leaching tests demonstrated the superior immobilization capabilities of the CPC-CM, maintaining an average PFAS leaching rate below 7% after 120-day incubation. In the context of human exposure scenarios, the in vitro bioaccessibility and in vivo bioavailability of PFAS in soils were measured by gastrointestinal extraction and mouse assay. CPC-CM treatment effectively reduced the bioaccessibility (by up to 84%) and bioavailability (by up to 76%) of PFAS in soils. Furthermore, the safety and efficacy of CPC-CM were evaluated using enteric microorganisms of mice. CPC-CM treatment mitigated PFAS-induced changes in the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, thereby reducing PFAS-induced health risks for humans. Overall, CPC-CM synthesized in this study demonstrated superior adsorption performance and application safety, offering a highly promising approach for remediating PFAS-contaminated soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuo Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyi Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, People's Republic of China.
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20
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Nativio A, Jovanovic O, van der Hoek JP, Kapelan Z. Environmental risk assessment related to using resource recovery-based bio-composite materials in the aquatic environment with new laboratory leaching test data. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:21057-21072. [PMID: 38381287 PMCID: PMC10948581 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32522-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
The concept of circular economy, aiming at increasing the sustainability of products and services in the water and other sectors, is gaining momentum worldwide. Driven by this concept, novel bio-composite materials produced by recovering resources from different parts of the water cycle are now manufactured in The Netherlands. The new materials are used for different products such as canal bank protection elements, as an alternative to similar elements made of hardwood. As much as these new materials are appealing from the sustainability point of view, they may leach toxic substances into the aquatic environment given some of their ingredients, e.g., cellulose recovered from wastewater treatment. Therefore, a methodology for the assessment of related environmental risks is needed and it does not exist currently. This paper addresses this knowledge gap by presenting a framework for this. The framework is based on European environmental risk assessment guidelines, and it includes four key steps: (i) hazard identification, (ii) dose-response modelling, (iii) exposure assessment and (iv) risk characterisation (i.e. assessment). As part of the first step, laboratory leaching tests were carried out to evaluate the potential release of specific chemical substances such as heavy metals and resin compounds into the aquatic environment. Laboratory test results were then used as input data to evaluate the risk of potential leaching from canal bank protection elements into surface water. A deterministic model was used first to identify the chemicals exceeding the guideline threshold. Subsequently, a stochastic model was applied to evaluate the environmental risks across a range of leachate concentrations and water velocities in the canal, thereby simulating a broader spectrum of possible situations. The risk analyses were conducted for four alternative bio-composite materials made of different ingredients, two different flow conditions (stagnant water and advective flow) in two types of canals (wide ditch and primary watercourse) and for two different water levels based on season conditions (summer and winter conditions). The results obtained from leaching tests identified Cu, Mn, Zn, styrene and furfuryl alcohol as potentially troublesome chemicals. In the case of stagnant water, the absence of a flow rate increases the residence time of the chemicals in the surface water, resulting in a higher PEC/PNEC (i.e. risk) value. However, under stagnant case conditions, environmental risks for all chemicals considered turned out to be below the safety threshold. In the advective case, the existence of a flow rate, even at low velocities simulating the conditions of 'almost no flow,' contributes to increased dilution, resulting in lower PEC/PNEC ratio values. The results presented here, even though representing real-case scenarios, are only indicative as these are based on laboratory leaching tests and a number of assumptions made. Additional field tests involving collecting and analysing water and sediment samples from the canal where the canal bank protection elements are located, over a prolonged period, are required to come up with more conclusive findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Nativio
- Department of Water Management, Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN, Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Oriana Jovanovic
- Department of Water Management, Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Peter van der Hoek
- Department of Water Management, Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN, Delft, The Netherlands
- Waternet, Korte Ouderkerkerdijk 7, 1096 AC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Zoran Kapelan
- Department of Water Management, Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN, Delft, The Netherlands
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Khair Biek S, Khudur LS, Rigby L, Singh N, Askeland M, Ball AS. Assessing the impact of immobilisation on the bioavailability of PFAS to plants in contaminated Australian soils. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:20330-20342. [PMID: 38372916 PMCID: PMC10927784 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32496-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become a key concern to both environmental and human health due to their extreme persistence in the environment and their ability to bioaccumulate in plants, animals, and humans. In this mesocosm study, Australian PFAS-contaminated soil with a mean total concentration of 8.05 mg/kg and a mean combined PFHxS + PFOS concentration of 7.89 mg/kg was treated with an immobilisation sorbent (RemBind®) at different application rates (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, and 5% w/w). To assess the efficacy of this immobilisation treatment, PFAS leachability, PFAS plant uptake, and ecotoxicity tests were conducted. Leachability testing was performed according to the Australian Standard Leaching Procedure (ASLP) at pH 5 and 7. A grass species (Dactylis glomerata) was used to measure plant uptake of PFAS from untreated and treated contaminated soil. In addition, the Microtox test was used to assess the associated ecotoxicity. The immobilisation treatment resulted in a significant reduction of 88.5-99.8% in the total PFAS leachability and 88.7-99.8% in the combined PFOS and PFHxS leachability at pH 5. Similarly, significant reductions (5-12-fold) were observed in the plant uptake of total PFAS and combined PFOS and PFHxS in all treated soil samples. In addition, although the Microtox test showed relatively low ecotoxicity in all the experimental samples, including the untreated soil, a significant decrease in the ecotoxicity of treated soil samples was observed. The results from this study highlight that this treatment approach has the potential to reduce both PFAS leachability and plant bioavailability with a relatively low associated ecotoxicity. This is likely to reduce the risk of the transfer of PFAS into higher trophic levels. This immobilisation treatment may, therefore, reduce the risk associated with PFAS-contaminated soils and may be an important remediation tool for managing certain PFAS-contaminated soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sali Khair Biek
- ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
- School of Science, STEM Collage, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Leadin S Khudur
- ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia.
- School of Science, STEM Collage, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia.
| | - Laura Rigby
- School of Science, STEM Collage, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Navneet Singh
- ADE Consulting Group Pty Ltd, Williamstown North, VIC, 3016, Australia
| | - Matthew Askeland
- ADE Consulting Group Pty Ltd, Williamstown North, VIC, 3016, Australia
| | - Andrew S Ball
- ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
- School of Science, STEM Collage, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
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22
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Sun FS, Wang MM, Zhao XY, Huang QY, Liu CQ, Yu GH. Synergistic binding mechanisms of co-contaminants in soil profiles: Influence of iron-bearing minerals and microbial communities. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123353. [PMID: 38219894 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
In contaminated soil sites, the coexistence of inorganic and organic contaminants poses a significant threat to both the surrounding ecosystem and public health. However, the migration characteristics of these co-contaminants within the soil and their interactions with key components, including Fe-bearing minerals, organic matter, and microorganisms, remain unclear. This study involved the collection of a 4.3-m-depth co-contaminated soil profile to investigate the vertical distribution patterns of co-contaminants (namely, arsenic, cadmium, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)) and their binding mechanisms with environmental factors. The results indicated a notable downward accumulation of inorganic contaminants with increasing soil depth, whereas PCBs were predominantly concentrated in the uppermost layer. Chemical extraction and synchrotron radiation analysis highlighted a positive correlation between the abundance of reactive iron (FeCBD) and both co-contaminants and microbial communities in the contaminated site. Furthermore, Mantel tests and structural equation modeling (SEM) demonstrated the direct impacts of FeCBD and microbial communities on co-contaminants within the soil profile. Overall, these results provided valuable insights into the migration and transformation characteristics of co-contaminants and their binding mechanisms mediated by minerals, organic matter, and microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Sheng Sun
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Earth Critical Zone Science and Sustainable Development in Bohai Rim, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Miao-Miao Wang
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Earth Critical Zone Science and Sustainable Development in Bohai Rim, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Xiang-Yang Zhao
- DeepBiome. Co. Ltd., No. 38 Debao Road, China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Qiao-Yun Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Cong-Qiang Liu
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Earth Critical Zone Science and Sustainable Development in Bohai Rim, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Guang-Hui Yu
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Earth Critical Zone Science and Sustainable Development in Bohai Rim, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
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23
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Uwayezu JN, Ren Z, Sonnenschein S, Leiviskä T, Lejon T, van Hees P, Karlsson P, Kumpiene J, Carabante I. Combination of separation and degradation methods after PFAS soil washing. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:168137. [PMID: 37890625 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
The current study evaluated a three-stage treatment to remediate PFAS-contaminated soil. The treatment consisted of soil washing, foam fractionation (FF), and electrochemical oxidation (EO). The possibility of replacing the third stage, i.e., EO, with an adsorption process was also assessed. The contamination in the studied soils was dominated by perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), with a concentration of 760 and 19 μg kg-1 in soil I and in soil II, accounting for 97 % and 70 % of all detected per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Before applying a pilot treatment of soil, soil washing was performed on a laboratory scale, to evaluate the effect of soil particle size, initial pH and a liquid-to-soil ratio (L/S) on the leachability of PFAS. A pilot washing system generated soil leachate that was subsequently treated using FF and EO (or adsorption) and then reused for soil washing. The results indicated that the leaching of PFAS occurred easier in 0.063-1 mm particles than in the soil particles having a size below 0.063 mm. Both alkaline conditions and a continual replacement of the leaching solution increased the leachability of PFAS. The analysis using one-way ANOVA showed no statistical difference in means of PFOS washed out in laboratory and pilot scales. This allowed estimating twenty washing cycles using 120 L water to reach 95 % PFOS removal in 60 kg soil. The aeration process removed 95-99 % PFOS in every washing cycle. The EO and adsorption processes achieved similar results removing up to 97 % PFOS in concentrated soil leachate. The current study demonstrated a multi-stage treatment as an effective and cost-efficient method to permanently clean up PFAS-contaminated soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Noel Uwayezu
- Waste Science and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden.
| | - Zhongfei Ren
- Chemical Process Engineering, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sarah Sonnenschein
- Waste Science and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Tiina Leiviskä
- Chemical Process Engineering, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tore Lejon
- Department of Chemistry, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Norway
| | | | | | - Jurate Kumpiene
- Waste Science and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Ivan Carabante
- Waste Science and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
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24
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Zhu F, Yang Y, Ren W, Iribagiza RM, Wang W. Coupling electrokinetic remediation with flushing using green tea synthesized nano zero-valent iron/nickel to remediate Cr (VI). ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023; 45:9691-9707. [PMID: 37812370 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-023-01767-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
This study focuses on a flushing-electrokinetic remediation technology of hexavalent chromium from the chromium slag dump site. A suspension of nanoscale zero-valent iron/nickel fabricated from green tea (GT-nZVI/Ni), was employed as an eluent to degrade Cr (VI) and enhance the remediation effectiveness of a single EK. The removal efficiency of Cr (VI) was compared under different voltages, electrode spacings and pH values of the anolyte. The results demonstrated that the combined flushing and EK achieved a removal rate of Cr (VI) in the soil throughout all the experiments ranging from 83.08 to 96.97% after 120 h. The optimal result was obtained when the voltage was 28 V, the pH value of anolyte was 3 and the electrode spacing was 15 cm. The removal of Cr (VI) reached 91.49% and the energy consumption was 0.32606 kW·h·g-1. The underlying mechanisms responsible for the removal of Cr (VI) by GT-nZVI/Ni flushing-EK primarily involved electromigration, reduction and adsorption co-precipitation processes. The fractionation analysis of Cr (VI) concentration in the soil after remediation showed that the presence of GT-nZVI/Ni facilitated the conversion of Cr (VI) into oxidizable and residual states with low mobility and toxicity. The results of toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) indicated that the leaching concentration of Cr (VI) was below 1 mg·L-1, complying with the standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, the phytotoxicity testing revealed that the germination index (GI) of the remediated soil reached 54.75%, indicating no potential harm to plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Zhu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yue Yang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, People's Republic of China
| | - Wentao Ren
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, People's Republic of China
| | - Rose Marie Iribagiza
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, People's Republic of China
| | - Weitao Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, People's Republic of China
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25
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Brahana PJ, Al Harraq A, Saab LE, Roberg R, Valsaraj KT, Bharti B. Uptake and release of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) from macro and microplastics. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2023; 25:1519-1531. [PMID: 37602395 DOI: 10.1039/d3em00209h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are two of the most notable emerging contaminants reported in the environment. Micron and nanoscale plastics possess a high surface area-to-volume ratio, which could increase their potential to adsorb pollutants such as PFAS. One of the most concerning sub-classes of PFAS are the perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs). PFCAs are often studied in the same context as other environmental contaminants, but their amphiphilic properties are often overlooked in determining their fate in the environment. This lack of consideration has resulted in a diminished understanding of the environmental mobility of PFCAs, as well as their interactions with environmental media. Here, we investigate the interaction of PFCAs with polyethylene microplastics, and identify the role of environmental weathering in modifying the nature of interactions. Through a series of adsorption-desorption experiments, we delineate the role of the fluoroalkyl tail in the binding of PFCAs to microplastics. As the number of carbon atoms in the fluoroalkyl chain increases, there is a corresponding increase in the adsorption of PFCAs onto microplastics. This relationship can become modified by environmental weathering, where the PFCAs are released from the macro and microplastic surface after exposure to simulated sunlight. This study identifies the fundamental relationship between PFCAs and plastic pollutants, where they can mutually impact their thermodynamic and transport properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Brahana
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA.
| | - Ahmed Al Harraq
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA.
| | - Luis E Saab
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA.
| | - Ruby Roberg
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA.
| | - Kaillat T Valsaraj
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA.
| | - Bhuvnesh Bharti
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA.
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26
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Li H, Dong Q, Zhang M, Gong T, Zan R, Wang W. Transport behavior difference and transport model of long- and short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in underground environmental media: A review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 327:121579. [PMID: 37028785 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs), which are the most commonly regulated and most widely concerned per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have received increasing attention on a global scale due to their amphiphilicity, stability, and long-range transport. Thus, understanding the typical PFAS transport behavior and using models to predict the evolution of PFAS contamination plumes is important for evaluating the potential risks. In this study, the effects of organic matter (OM), minerals, water saturation, and solution chemistry on the transport and retention of PFAS were investigated, and the interaction mechanism between long-chain/short-chain PFAS and the surrounding environment was analyzed. The results revealed that high content of OM/minerals, low saturation, low pH, and divalent cation had a great retardation effect on long-chain PFAS transport. The retention caused by hydrophobic interaction was the prominent mechanism for long-chain PFAS, whereas, the retention caused by electrostatic interaction was more relevant for short-chain PFAS. Additional adsorption at the air-water and nonaqueous-phase liquids (NAPL)-water interface was another potential interaction for retarding PFAS transport in the unsaturated media, which preferred to retard long-chain PFAS. Furthermore, the developing models for describing PFAS transport were investigated and summarized in detail, including the convection-dispersion equation, two-site model (TSM), continuous-distribution multi-rate model, modified-TSM, multi-process mass-transfer (MPMT) model, MPMT-1D model, MPMT-3D model, tempered one-sided stable density transport model, and a comprehensive compartment model. The research revealed PFAS transport mechanisms and provided the model tools, which supported the theoretical basis for the practical prediction of the evolution of PFAS contamination plumes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Qianling Dong
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Tiantian Gong
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Rixia Zan
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
| | - Wenbing Wang
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.
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27
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Kabiri S, Navarro DA, Hamad SA, Grimison C, Higgins CP, Mueller JF, Kookana RS, McLaughlin MJ. Physical and chemical properties of carbon-based sorbents that affect the removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from solution and soil. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 875:162653. [PMID: 36894096 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) from water or their immobilization in soil using carbon-based sorbents is one of the cost-effective techniques. Considering the variety of carbon-based sorbents, identifying the key sorbent properties responsible for PFASs removal from solution or immobilization in the soil can assist in the selection of the best sorbents for management of contaminated sites. This study evaluated the performance of 28 carbon-based sorbents including granular and powdered activated carbon (GAC and PAC), mixed mode carbon mineral material, biochars, and graphene-based materials (GNBs). The sorbents were characterized for a range of physical and chemical properties. PFASs' sorption from an AFFF-spiked solution was examined via a batch experiment, while their ability to immobilize PFASs in soil was tested following mixing, incubation and extraction using the Australian Standard Leaching Procedure. Both soil and solution were treated with 1 % w/w sorbents. Comparing different carbon-based materials, PAC, mixed mode carbon mineral material and GAC were the most effective in sorbing PFASs in both solution and soil. Among the different physical characteristics measured, the sorption of long-chain and more hydrophobic PFASs in both soil and solution was best correlated with sorbent surface area measured using methylene blue, which highlights the importance of mesopores in PFASs sorption. Iodine number was found to be a better indicator of the sorption of short-chain and more hydrophilic PFASs from solution but was found to be poorly correlated with PFASs immobilization in soil for activated carbons. Sorbents with a net positive charge performed better than those with a net negative charge, or no net charge. This study showed that surface area measured by methylene blue and surface charge are the best indicators of sorbent performance with respect to sorption/reducing leaching of PFASs. These properties may be helpful in selecting sorbents for PFASs remediation of soils/waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shervin Kabiri
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia.
| | | | - Suhair Ahmed Hamad
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia
| | | | - Christopher P Higgins
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Rai S Kookana
- CSIRO Land and Water, PMB 2, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Michael J McLaughlin
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia
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28
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Huang YR, Liu SS, Zi JX, Cheng SM, Li J, Ying GG, Chen CE. In Situ Insight into the Availability and Desorption Kinetics of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Soils with Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:7809-7817. [PMID: 37155686 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The physicochemical exchange dynamics between the solid and solution phases of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soils needs to be better understood. This study employed an in situ tool, diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT), to understand the distribution and exchange kinetics of five typical PFAS in four soils. Results show a nonlinear relationship between the PFAS masses in DGT and time, implying that PFAS were partially supplied by the solid phase in all of the soils. A dynamic model DGT-induced fluxes in soils/sediments (DIFS) was used to interpret the results and derive the distribution coefficients for the labile fraction (Kdl), response time (tc), and adsorption/desorption rates (k1 and k-1). The larger labile pool size (indicated by Kdl) for the longer chain PFAS implies their higher potential availability. The shorter chain PFAS tend to have a larger tc and relatively smaller k-1, implying that the release of these PFAS in soils might be kinetically limited but not for more hydrophobic compounds, such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), although soil properties might play an important role. Kdl ultimately controls the PFAS availability in soils, while the PFAS release from soils might be kinetically constrained (which may also hold for biota uptake), particularly for more hydrophilic PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue-Rui Huang
- Environmental Research Institute/School of Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Si-Si Liu
- Environmental Research Institute/School of Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin-Xin Zi
- Environmental Research Institute/School of Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Sheng-Ming Cheng
- Environmental Research Institute/School of Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510640, People's Republic of China
| | - Guang-Guo Ying
- Environmental Research Institute/School of Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Chang-Er Chen
- Environmental Research Institute/School of Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
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29
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Navarro DA, Kabiri S, Ho J, Bowles KC, Davis G, McLaughlin MJ, Kookana RS. Stabilisation of PFAS in soils: Long-term effectiveness of carbon-based soil amendments. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 323:121249. [PMID: 36764376 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Immobilisation/stabilisation is one of the most developed and studied approaches for treating soils contaminated with per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, its application has been inhibited by insufficient understanding of the effectiveness of added soil sorbents over time. Herein, we present results on the effectiveness of select carbon-based sorbents, over 4 years (longevity) and multiple laboratory leaching conditions (durability). Standard batch leaching tests simulating aggressive, worst-case scenario conditions for leaching (i.e., shaking for 24-48 h at high liquid/solid ratios) were employed to test longevity and durability of stabilisation in clay-loam and sandy-loam soils historically contaminated with PFAS (2 and 14 mg/kg ∑28 PFAS). The different sorbents, which were applied at 1-6% (w/w), reduced leaching of PFAS from the soils to varying degrees. Among the 5 sorbents tested, initial assessments completed 1 week after treatment revealed that 2 powdered activated carbon (PAC) sorbents and 1 biochar were able to reduce leaching of PFAS in the soil by at least 95%. Four years after treatment, the performance of the PAC sorbents did not significantly change, whilst colloidal AC improved and was able to reduce leaching of PFAS by at least 94%. The AC-treated soils also appeared to be durable and achieved at least 95% reduction in PFAS leaching under repetitive leaching events (5 times extraction) and with minimal effect of pH (pH 4-10.5). In contrast, the biochars were affected by aging and were at least 22% less effective in reducing PFAS leaching across a range of leaching conditions. Sorbent performance was generally consistent with the sorbent's physical and chemical characteristics. Overall, the AC sorbents used in this study appeared to be better than the biochars in stabilising PFAS in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divina A Navarro
- CSIRO Environment, PMB 2, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia; School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, South Australia, 5064, Australia.
| | - Shervin Kabiri
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, South Australia, 5064, Australia
| | - Jonathan Ho
- AECOM Australia Pty Ltd, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
| | - Karl C Bowles
- RPS AAP Consulting Pty Ltd, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia; Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, level 4/20 Cornwall St, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Greg Davis
- CSIRO Environment, 147 Underwood Avenue, Floreat, Western Australia, 6014, Australia
| | - Mike J McLaughlin
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, South Australia, 5064, Australia
| | - Rai S Kookana
- CSIRO Environment, PMB 2, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia; School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, South Australia, 5064, Australia
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30
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Nickerson A, Maizel AC, Schaefer CE, Ranville JF, Higgins CP. Effect of geochemical conditions on PFAS release from AFFF-impacted saturated soil columns. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2023; 25:405-414. [PMID: 36629138 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00367h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are frequently found at high concentrations in the subsurface of aqueous film forming foam (AFFF)-impacted sites. Geochemical parameters affect the release of PFASs from source area soils into groundwater but have not been extensively studied for soils that have been historically impacted with AFFF. This study investigated the effects of pH and salt concentrations on release of anionic and zwitterionic PFASs from AFFF-impacted soils in flow-through saturated columns. High pH (10) columns with elevated sodium concentrations had higher cumulative masses eluted of several PFASs compared to pH 3 and pH 7 columns with lower sodium concentrations, likely caused by changes to soil organic matter surface charge. Four PFASs (e.g. 4:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate, perfluorobutane sulfonamido acetic acid) eluted significantly earlier in both pH 3 and pH 10/high NaCl columns compared to pH 7 columns. The results of this study suggest that shifts in pH for soils located at AFFF-impacted sites - particularly raising the pH - may mobilize sorbed PFASs, specifically longer-chain and zwitterionic compounds that are typically strongly sorbed to soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Nickerson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA.
| | - Andrew C Maizel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA.
| | | | - James F Ranville
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA
| | - Christopher P Higgins
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA.
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31
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Grimison C, Knight ER, Nguyen TMH, Nagle N, Kabiri S, Bräunig J, Navarro DA, Kookana RS, Higgins CP, McLaughlin MJ, Mueller JF. The efficacy of soil washing for the remediation of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the field. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130441. [PMID: 36462244 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This paper aims to describe the performance of a soil washing plant (SWP) for remediating a per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)-contaminated soil with a high clay content (61%). The SWP used both physical and chemical processes; fractionation of the soil particles by size and partitioning of PFASs into the aqueous phase to remove PFASs from the soil. Contaminated water was treated in series with granulated activated carbon (GAC) and ion-exchange resin and reused within the SWP. Approximately 2200 t (dry weight) of PFAS-contaminated soil was treated in 25 batches of 90 t each, with a throughput of approximately 11 t soil/hr. Efficiency of the SWP was measured by observed decreases in total and leachable concentrations of PFASs in the soil. Average removal efficiencies (RE) were up to 97.1% for perfluorocarboxylic acids and 94.9% for perfluorosulfonic acids. REs varied among different PFASs depending on their chemistry (functional head group, carbon chain length) and were independent of the total PFAS concentrations in each soil batch. Mass balance analysis found approximately 90% of the PFAS mass in the soil was transferred to the wash solution and > 99.9% of the PFAS mass in the wash solution was transferred onto the GAC without any breakthrough.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Grimison
- Ventia Services Pty Limited, Level 8, 80 Pacific Highway, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Emma R Knight
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Thi Minh Hong Nguyen
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nathan Nagle
- Ventia Services Pty Limited, Level 8, 80 Pacific Highway, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shervin Kabiri
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1 Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jennifer Bräunig
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Divina A Navarro
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), PMB 2 Land and Water, Waite Campus, South Australia, Australia
| | - Rai S Kookana
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), PMB 2 Land and Water, Waite Campus, South Australia, Australia
| | - Christopher P Higgins
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States
| | - Michael J McLaughlin
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1 Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
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32
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Schaefer CE, Lavorgna GM, Lippincott DR, Nguyen D, Schaum A, Higgins CP, Field J. Leaching of Perfluoroalkyl Acids during Unsaturated Zone Flushing at a Field Site Impacted with Aqueous Film Forming Foam. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:1940-1948. [PMID: 36689630 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c06903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
While several studies have focused on perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) leaching from soils, field studies evaluating the relationship between PFAA mass removal and porewater concentrations as the PFAA source becomes depleted are lacking. Herein, in situ water flushing was performed at a site historically impacted with AFFF to accelerate the leaching of PFAAs from unsaturated soils in a highly characterized field test cell. Porous cup suction lysimeters were used to assess the changes in PFAA porewater concentrations as a function of PFAA mass removal from the unsaturated soils, where flushing was intermittently paused to determine ambient PFAA porewater concentrations. Results showed that the fractional decreases in PFAA porewater concentrations during flushing exceeded the fractional decrease in PFAA mass removal from the soil. PFOS porewater concentrations decrease by 76% (with negligible rebound) compared to only a 7.4% decrease in overall PFOS mass removed from the unsaturated zone. Overall, the results observed herein suggest that, when considering soil impacts to groundwater, less stringent soil cleanup criteria than those that consider an equivalent relationship between mass removal and mass discharge may be appropriate. In addition, remedial approaches that remove only a modest fraction of the PFAA soil mass may be protective of underlying groundwater, particularly for perfluorinated sulfonates with at least six carbons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E Schaefer
- CDM Smith, 110 Fieldcrest Avenue, #8, 6th Floor, Edison, New Jersey08837, United States
| | - Graig M Lavorgna
- APTIM Federal Services, 17 Princess Rd, Lawrenceville, New Jersey08648, United States
| | - David R Lippincott
- APTIM Federal Services, 17 Princess Rd, Lawrenceville, New Jersey08648, United States
| | - Dung Nguyen
- CDM Smith, 14432 SE Eastgate Way, # 100, Bellevue, Washington98007, United States
| | - Andre Schaum
- Department of Molecular and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 Agricultural and Life Science Building, Corvallis, Oregon97331, United States
| | - Christopher P Higgins
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado80401, United States
| | - Jennifer Field
- Department of Molecular and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 Agricultural and Life Science Building, Corvallis, Oregon97331, United States
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33
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Shen L, Zhou J, Liang X, Qin L, Wang T, Zhu L. Different Sources, Fractionation, and Migration of Legacy and Novel Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances between Greenhouse and Open-Field Soils. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:1670-1679. [PMID: 36653896 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widely present in agricultural soils, but their sources and fate in greenhouse soils remain unclear. In this study, the sources, fractionation, and migration of PFASs were compared in the greenhouse and open-field soils of the Fen-Wei Plain, China. The total concentrations of PFASs (Σ17PFAS) were comparable in the greenhouse and open-field soils but with different profiles. Detrended correspondence and correlation analyses indicated that dry deposition was an important source of PFASs in the open-field soils, whereas surface water had a notable contribution to the greenhouse soils due to more frequent irrigation. The PFASs in the soils were mainly present in water-soluble fraction (F1). The F1 proportions of short-chain and long-chain PFASs were negatively correlated with the anion exchange capacity (AEC) and organic carbon content (foc) in soil, respectively, with that of short-chain PFASs being higher than long-chain ones. The AEC was significantly higher while foc was lower in the greenhouse soil than the open-field soil, leading to lower proportions of F1 for short-chain PFASs while higher for long-chain ones in the greenhouse soil. Frequent irrigation and elevated temperatures promoted the migration of PFASs in greenhouse soil; thus, the Σ17PFAS and F1 exhibited an increasing trend with soil depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Shen
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, P.R. China
| | - Jian Zhou
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, No.3 Taicheng Road, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoxue Liang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, P.R. China
| | - Lei Qin
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, P.R. China
| | - Tiecheng Wang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, No.3 Taicheng Road, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China
| | - Lingyan Zhu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, No.3 Taicheng Road, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P.R. China
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Richardson MJ, Kabiri S, Grimison C, Bowles K, Corish S, Chapman M, McLaughlin MJ. Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances in Runoff and Leaching from AFFF-Contaminated Soils: a Rainfall Simulation Study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:16857-16865. [PMID: 36354276 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The mobilization and transport of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) via surface runoff (runoff) from aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF)-contaminated soils during rainfall, flooding, or irrigation has not been thoroughly evaluated, and the effectiveness of carbonaceous sorbents in limiting PFASs in runoff is similarly unquantified. Here, laboratory-scale rainfall simulations evaluate PFAS losses in runoff and in leaching to groundwater (leachate) from AFFF-contaminated soils varying in texture, PFAS composition and concentration, and remediation treatment. Leaching dominated PFAS losses in soils with a concentration of ∑PFAS = 0.2-2 mg/kg. However, with higher soil PFAS concentrations (∑PFAS = 31 mg/kg), leachate volumes were negligible and runoff dominated losses. The concentration and variety of PFASs were far greater in leachates regardless of the initial concentrations in soil. Losses of PFASs were dependent on the C-chain length for leachates and more on the initial concentration in soil for runoff. Suspended materials did not meaningfully contribute to runoff losses. While concentrations of most PFASs declined significantly after the first rainfall event, desorption and transport in both runoff and leachates persisted over several rainfall events. Finally, results showed that sorption to AC mostly occurred during, not prior to, rainfall events and that 1% w/w AC substantially reduced losses in runoff and leachates from all soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Richardson
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, South Australia5064, Australia
| | - Shervin Kabiri
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, South Australia5064, Australia
| | - Charles Grimison
- Ventia Proprietary Limited, North Sydney,, New South Wales2060, Australia
| | - Karl Bowles
- RPS AAP Consulting Proprietary Limited, Sydney, New South Wales2000, Australia
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland4102, Australia
| | - Stephen Corish
- Treo Environment Proprietary Limited, Bondi Junction, Woolloongabba, New South Wales2022, Australia
| | - Mark Chapman
- Aecom Australia, Adelaide, South Australia5000, Australia
| | - Michael J McLaughlin
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, South Australia5064, Australia
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35
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Lämmer R, Weidemann E, Göckener B, Stahl T, Breuer J, Kowalczyk J, Just H, Boeddinghaus RS, Gassmann M, Kling HW, Bücking M. Evaluation of the Transformation and Leaching Behavior of Two Polyfluoroalkyl Phosphate Diesters in a Field Lysimeter Study. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:14329-14338. [PMID: 36323308 PMCID: PMC9673155 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c03334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In this study, 6:2 and 8:2 polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diester (diPAP) were individually investigated in lysimeters under near-natural conditions. Leachate was sampled for 2 years, as was the soil after the experiment. In the leachate of the diPAP-spiked soils, perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) of different chain lengths were detected [23.2% (6:2 diPAP variant) and 20.8% (8:2 diPAP variant) of the initially applied molar amount]. After 2 years, the soils still contained 36-37% 6:2 diPAP and 41-45% 8:2 diPAP, respectively, in addition to smaller amounts of PFCAs (1.5 and 10.6%, respectively). Amounts of PFCAs found in the grass were low (<0.1% in both variants). The recovery rate of both 6:2 diPAP and 8:2 diPAP did not reach 100% (63.9 and 83.2%, respectively). The transformation of immobile diPAPs into persistent mobile PFCAs and their transport into the groundwater shows a pathway for human exposure to hazardous PFCAs through drinking water and irrigation of crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- René Lämmer
- Department of Environmental and Food Analysis, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Auf dem Aberg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany
| | - Eva Weidemann
- Department of Hydrology and Substance Balance, University of Kassel, Kurt-Wolters-Straße 3, 34125 Kassel, Germany
| | - Bernd Göckener
- Department of Environmental and Food Analysis, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Auf dem Aberg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Stahl
- Chemical and Veterinary Analytical Institute Münsterland-Emscher-Lippe, Joseph-König-Straße 40, 48147 Münster, Germany
| | - Jörn Breuer
- Center for Agricultural Technology Augustenberg (LTZ), Neßlerstraße 25, 76227 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Janine Kowalczyk
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hildegard Just
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Runa S Boeddinghaus
- Center for Agricultural Technology Augustenberg (LTZ), Neßlerstraße 25, 76227 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Matthias Gassmann
- Department of Hydrology and Substance Balance, University of Kassel, Kurt-Wolters-Straße 3, 34125 Kassel, Germany
| | - Hans-Willi Kling
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Wuppertal, Gaußstraße 20, 42119 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Mark Bücking
- Department of Environmental and Food Analysis, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Auf dem Aberg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany
- School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
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36
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Li Y, Thompson J, Wang Z, Bräunig J, Zheng Q, Thai PK, Mueller JF, Yuan Z. Transformation and fate of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances during aerobic digestion of anaerobically digested sludge. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 219:118568. [PMID: 35598466 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Post-anaerobic aerobic digestion (PAAD) is a promising strategy to further reduce the volume and improve the quality of anaerobically digested sludge (ADS). However, the effect of PAAD process on the fate of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remains largely unknown. In this study, fourteen PPCPs and fifteen PFAS were detected in ADS and evaluated regarding their fate and transformation in a laboratory aerobic digester operated with a hydraulic retention time of 13 days under 22 ℃. Twelve PPCPs demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) decrease in their total concentrations (dissolved and adsorbed fractions combined) with six compounds presenting substantial transformation (> 80%) after aerobic digestion. On the contrary, PFAS were not removed and their concentrations were either increased (increasing ratio: 91 - 571%) or consistent in the sludge during PAAD process, suggesting their recalcitrance to post aerobic digestion. More than half of PPCPs and PFAS demonstrated medium to strong sorption onto solids with their solid fraction higher than 50% in the ADS. After PAAD process, sorption of four PPCPs and three PFAAs to solids was enhanced in sludge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijing Li
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jack Thompson
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Zhiyao Wang
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jennifer Bräunig
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Qiuda Zheng
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Phong K Thai
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Zhiguo Yuan
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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