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Timshina AS, Robey NM, Oldnettle A, Barron S, Mehdi Q, Cerlanek A, Townsend TG, Bowden JA. Investigating the sources and fate of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food waste compost. Waste Manag 2024; 180:125-134. [PMID: 38564913 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Composting municipal food waste is a key strategy for beneficially reusing methane-producing waste that would otherwise occupy landfill space. However, land-applied compost can cycle per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) back into the food supply and the environment. We partnered with a pilot-scale windrow composting facility to investigate the sources and fate of 40 PFAS in food waste compost. A comparison of feedstock materials yielded concentrations of ∑PFAS under 1 ng g-1 in mulch and food waste and at 1380 ng g-1 in leachate from used compostable food contact materials. Concentrations of targeted ∑PFAS increased with compost maturity along the windrow (1.85-23.1 ng g-1) and in mature stockpiles of increasing curing age (12.6-84.3 ng g-1). Among 15 PFAS quantified in compost, short-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) - C5 and C6 PFCAs in particular - led the increasing trend, suggesting biotransformation of precursor PFAS into these terminal PFAS through aerobic decomposition. Several precursor PFAS were also measured, including fluorotelomer carboxylic acids (FTCAs) and polyfluorinated phosphate diesters (PAPs). However, since most targeted analytical methods and proposed regulations prioritize terminal PFAS, testing fully matured compost would provide the most relevant snapshot of PFAS that could be land applied. In addition, removing co-disposed food contact materials from the FW feedstock onsite yielded only a 37 % reduction of PFAS loads in subsequent compost, likely due to PFAS leaching during co-disposal. Source-separation of food contact materials is currently the best management practice for meaningful reduction of PFAS in food waste composts intended for land application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina S Timshina
- University of Florida, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Nicole M Robey
- Innovative Technical Solutions, Inc., Gainesville, FL 32606, USA
| | - Allison Oldnettle
- University of Florida, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | | | - Qaim Mehdi
- University of Florida, Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology & Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Allison Cerlanek
- University of Florida, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Timothy G Townsend
- University of Florida, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - John A Bowden
- University of Florida, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; University of Florida, Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology & Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
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Cerlanek A, Liu Y, Robey N, Timshina AS, Bowden JA, Townsend TG. Assessing construction and demolition wood-derived biochar for in-situ per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) removal from landfill leachate. Waste Manag 2024; 174:382-389. [PMID: 38101234 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
With regulations for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) impending, the abundance of these chemicals of emerging concern in municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill leachate increasingly challenges landfill operators to seek on-site leachate pre-treatment options. This two-staged study explores the potential reuse of biochar derived from construction and demolition debris (CDD) wood as an in-situ PFAS sorbent for application within MSW landfill leachate collection systems. Batch leaching tests were first used to examine the feasibility of capturing PFAS from landfill leachate using two sources of CDD-wood-derived biochar. Then, columns were used to test the in-situ sorption capabilities of the same biochars under simulated landfill conditions. All leachates were characterized for pH, chemical oxygen demand, ammonia-nitrogen, and 92 PFAS. Seventeen PFAS were detected in the batch leaching experiment, and nine PFAS were detected in column leachates. In the batch leaching scenario, Biochar 1 achieved a maximum of 29% PFAS reduction compared to controls. Columns containing Biochar 1 generated leachates with PFAS concentrations 50% to 80% higher than those in control columns for the duration of the experiment. Columns containing Biochar 2 generated leachates with PFAS concentrations 44% less than controls in week 1 and similar concentrations in weeks 2, 3, and 4. In this study, PFAS removal from landfill leachate using biochar derived from CDD wood was not significant. Further research on biochar derived from CDD wood is needed before it can be recommended as an in-situ landfill leachate pre-treatment method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Cerlanek
- University of Florida, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Yalan Liu
- Florida Atlantic University, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Nicole Robey
- Innovative Technical Solutions, Gainesville, FL 32606, USA
| | - Alina S Timshina
- University of Florida, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - John A Bowden
- University of Florida, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; University of Florida, Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology & Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Timothy G Townsend
- University of Florida, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
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