Life cycle assessments (LCAs) were performed for per-
and polyfluoroalkyl
substance (PFAS) treatment with ion exchange (IX) followed by electrochemical
oxidation (EO). For the studied water quality, the global warming
potentials (GWPs) for two orders of removal of perfluorooctane sulfonic
and perfluorooctanoic acids from 1000 m3 water samples
were 72.2 and 84.9 kg CO2 eq., respectively. The major
contributors to the GWP were electricity and resin manufacturing.
To understand the environmental impacts of different treatment options,
the following scenarios are compared: single use of the IX resin followed
by incineration (IX + Incin.), single use of the IX resin followed
by EO (IX + EO), and regeneration and reuse of the IX resin followed
by EO (IX/Re + EO). When the EE/O is less than 192 kWh/m3, the GWPs of the three scenarios are in the order of IX/Re + EO
< IX + EO < IX + Incin. When the EE/O is larger than 695 kWh/m3, the order is IX + Incin. < IX/Re + EO < IX + EO. When
the EE/O is in the middle of the two numbers, the order is IX/Re +
EO < IX + Incin. < IX + EO. A greener energy mix favors the
EO options and increases these two numbers. An empirical equation
was introduced to estimate the overall GWP of PFAS removal based on
the EE/O and adsorption isotherms.
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