A Review of Immobilisation-Based Remediation of Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Soils

Sleep, Julie A.; Juhasz, Albert L.

doi:10.1007/s40726-021-00199-z

Cited by 21 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 85 publications

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“…For LC-MS/MS analysis, liquid samples were diluted 50 : 50 with methanol containing 20 ng of perfluoro-1-hexanesulfonate ( 18 O 2 -PFHxS) and perfluoro-hexanoic acid ( 13 C 4 -PFHxA) stable isotopes. The recovery of the stable isotopes of 18 O 2 -PFHxS and 13 C 4 PFHxA was 95.4 and 97.6%, respectively. PFAS-contaminated soils were extracted following our previous work.…”

Section: Pfas Analysismentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Since C-based remediation agents can exist in a wide variety of forms, can easily bind a wide range of contaminants and are not damaging to the environment themselves, they are popular choices for use as immobilisation materials. 18 However, due to the wide range of properties ( e.g. chain lengths and charges) of PFAS molecules, a single type of immobilisation material may not be sufficient and it is not known whether hydrophobic interactions are the dominant mechanisms for removal or immobilisation of all types of PFASs in solution or soil.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hydrophobic interaction is the dominant mechanism of zwitterionic PFAS adsorption to carbon-based sorptive materials in water and soil

Kabiri,

Monaghan,

Navarro

et al. 2024

Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol.

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Section: Pfas Analysismentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrophobic interaction is the dominant mechanism of zwitterionic PFAS adsorption to carbon-based sorptive materials in water and soil

Kabiri,

Monaghan,

Navarro

et al. 2024

Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol.

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“…In contrast, the application of PFAS remediation technologies developed for solid media is categorised into three broad approaches, namely, mobilisation (e.g., phytoremediation, soil washing, and soil flushing), immobilisation (e.g., sorption and stabilisation), and destruction (e.g., biodegradation, thermal treatment, chemo-oxidation, and ball milling) [125,126]. Most studies have focused on the treatment of PFAS-contaminated soil remain in the experimental phase, while others have been tested in the field.…”

Section: The Source Of Pfas In Compostmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges and Remediation Strategies for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Contamination in Composting

Khair Biek,

Khudur,

Ball

2024

Sustainability

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Municipal solid waste (MSW) is projected to rise to 3.4 billion tonnes by 2050, with only 33% undergoing environmentally friendly management practices. Achieving a circular economy involves sustainable approaches, among which diverting waste from landfills to composting plays a crucial role. However, many of the products society uses and discards in MSW daily contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), raising concerns that composts may inadvertently introduce PFAS into the environment, posing a significant challenge to waste management and environmental sustainability. PFAS have been detected in compost at concentrations ranging between 1.26–11.84 µg/kg. Composts are therefore a source of PFAS contamination, posing risks to human and ecosystem health. Impactful technologies are therefore required for PFAS remediation during the composting process. This review examines the composting process as a sustainable organic waste management technology, examining the various systems employed, compost quality, and uses, particularly emphasising the challenge posed by PFAS contamination. The review provides novel insights into possible PFAS remediation technologies. A comprehensive understanding of PFAS origin, fate, and transformation during the composting process is lacking, creating substantial knowledge gaps regarding the inputs processes contributing most to PFAS accumulation in the final product. Addressing these gaps in future studies is crucial for minimising PFAS discharge into the environment and developing an effective remediation approach. This review highlights the urgent need for innovative solutions to mitigate PFAS contamination in compost and the importance of advancing research and technology to achieve sustainable waste management objectives.

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“…Recently, immobilisation approaches have been used to treat PFAS-contaminated soil using soil sorbents or fixation agents. Adding sorbents redistributes PFAS contaminants, reducing their concentration in the liquid phase, thereby decreasing their mobility, leachability, and bioavailability (Hale et al 2017;Sleep and Juhasz 2021;Juhasz et al 2022a). The application of immobilising agents such as RemBind® which is a commercial adsorbent containing activated carbon, clays, and aluminium oxyhydroxides has been applied to a wide range of soils contaminated with PFAS (Bräunig et al 2021a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the impact of immobilisation on the bioavailability of PFAS to plants in contaminated Australian soils

Khair Biek,

Khudur,

Rigby

et al. 2024

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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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. Graphical Abstract

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A Review of Immobilisation-Based Remediation of Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Soils

Cited by 21 publications

References 85 publications

Hydrophobic interaction is the dominant mechanism of zwitterionic PFAS adsorption to carbon-based sorptive materials in water and soil

Hydrophobic interaction is the dominant mechanism of zwitterionic PFAS adsorption to carbon-based sorptive materials in water and soil

Challenges and Remediation Strategies for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Contamination in Composting

Assessing the impact of immobilisation on the bioavailability of PFAS to plants in contaminated Australian soils

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