Skip to content
6CCVD Research

Electrochemical degradation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in groundwater

At a Glance

Section titled ā€œAt a Glanceā€
MetadataDetails
Publication Date2015-03-28
JournalWater Science & Technology
AuthorsAnna-Lena Trautmann, H. Schell, Kathrin R. Schmidt, K.-M Mangold, Andreas Tiehm
InstitutionsDVGW - Technologiezentrum Wasser, Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Citations137

Abstract

Section titled ā€œAbstractā€

Abstract Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) represent hazardous pollutants and are frequently detected in the environment, e.g. in contaminated groundwater. PFASs are persistent to biodegradation and conventional oxidation processes such as ozonation. In this study electrochemical degradation of PFASs on boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes is demonstrated. Experiments were performed with model solutions and contaminated groundwater with a dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content of 13 mg/L. The perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) perfluorobutanoate, perfluoropentanoate, perfluorohexanoate, perfluoroheptanoate and perfluorooctanoate, and the perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSAs) perfluorobutane sulfonate, perfluorohexane sulfonate, perfluorooctane sulfonate and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate were detected in the groundwater samples. At PFAS concentrations ranging from 0.26 to 34 mg/L (0.7 to 79 Ī¼M), the degradation of PFASs was achieved despite of the high DOC background. Pseudo first-order kinetic constants of PFSA degradation increased with the increase of carbon chain length. Fluoride formation as well as the generation of PFCAs with shortened chain lengths was observed. Inorganic byproducts such as perchlorate were also formed and have to be considered in further process optimization.

Tech Support

Section titled ā€œTech Supportā€

Original Source

Section titled ā€œOriginal Sourceā€

References

Section titled ā€œReferencesā€
  1. 2010 - Photo-assisted electrochemical degradation of real textile wastewater [Crossref]
  2. 2012 - Electrochemical oxidation of reverse osmosis concentrate on boron-doped diamond anodes at circumneutral and acidic pH [Crossref]
  3. 2011 - Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the environment: terminology, classification, and origins [Crossref]
  4. 2008 - Emissions of perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS) from point sources - identification of relevant branches [Crossref]

Reads Similar to This

Indirect electrochemical detection of perfluoro decanoic acid from water On the Role of the Cathode for the Electro-Oxidation of Perfluorooctanoic Acid Toxic Byproduct Formation during Electrochemical Treatment of Latrine Wastewater