Evidence of Remediation-Induced Alteration of Subsurface Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substance Distribution at a Former Firefighter Training Area

McGuire, Meghan E.; Schaefer, Charles E.; Richards, Trenton; Backe, Will J.; Field, Jennifer A.; Houtz, Erika; Sedlak, David L.; Guelfo, Jennifer L.; Wunsch, Assaf; Higgins, Christopher P.

doi:10.1021/es5006187

Cited by 225 publications

(228 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Many conventional remedial technologies used to address organic compounds, such as hydrocarbons and chlorinated solvents, are ineffective due to the low volatility of PFASs and their resistance to biodegradation. Technologies such as air sparging, oxygenation to induce aerobic conditions, and some forms of chemical oxidation have been shown to cause the transformation of polyfluorinated PFAA precursors into PFAAs (Dauchy et al., ; McGuire et al., ). Application of these technologies will likely increase the mass flux of PFASs from treatment zones.…”

Section: Treatment Of Pfassmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of emerging technologies for remediation of PFASs

Ross

McDonough

Miles

et al. 2018

Remediation Journal

404

268

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The need for remediation of poly‐ and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is growing as a result of more regulatory attention to this new class of contaminants with diminishing water quality standards being promulgated, commonly in the parts per trillion range. PFASs comprise >3,000 individual compounds, but the focus of analyses and regulations has generally been PFASs termed perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), which are all extremely persistent, can be highly mobile, and are increasingly being reported to bioaccumulate, with understanding of their toxicology evolving. However, there are thousands of polyfluorinated “PFAA precursors”, which can transform in the environment and in higher organisms to create PFAAs as persistent daughter products. Some PFASs can travel miles from their point of release, as they are mobile and persistent, potentially creating large plumes. The use of a conceptual site model (CSM) to define risks posed by specific PFASs to potential receptors is considered essential. Granular activated carbon (GAC) is commonly used as part of interim remedial measures to treat PFASs present in water. Many alternative treatment technologies are being adapted for PFASs or ingenious solutions developed. The diversity of PFASs commonly associated with use of multiple PFASs in commercial products is not commonly assessed. Remedial technologies, which are adsorptive or destructive, are considered for both soils and waters with challenges to their commercial application outlined. Biological approaches to treat PFASs report biotransformation which creates persistent PFAAs, no PFASs can biodegrade. Water treatment technologies applied ex situ could be used in a treatment train approach, for example, to concentrate PFASs and then destroy them on‐site. Dynamic groundwater recirculation can greatly enhance contaminant mass removal via groundwater pumping. This review of technologies for remediation of PFASs describes that: GAC may be effective for removal of long‐chain PFAAs, but does not perform well on short‐chain PFAAs and its use for removal of precursors is reported to be less effective; Anion‐exchange resins can remove a wider array of long‐ and short‐chain PFAAs, but struggle to treat the shortest chain PFAAs and removal of most PFAA precursors has not been evaluated; Ozofractionation has been applied for PFASs at full scale and shown to be effective for removal of total PFASs; Chemical oxidation has been demonstrated to be potentially applicable for some PFAAs, but when applied in situ there is concern over the formation of shorter chain PFAAs and ongoing rebound from sorbed precursors; Electrochemical oxidation is evolving as a destructive technology for many PFASs, but can create undesirable by‐products such as perchlorate and bromate; Sonolysis has been demonstrated as a potential destructive technology in the laboratory but there are significant challenges when considering scale up; Soils stabilization approaches are evolving and have been used at full scale but performance need to be assessed usin...

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Section: Treatment Of Pfassmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of emerging technologies for remediation of PFASs

Ross

McDonough

Miles

et al. 2018

Remediation Journal

404

268

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Disposal options for contaminated water runoff include discharge to an on-site wastewater treatment (WWT) facility or sewer. The discharge of AFFF directly into the environment may lead to release of PFASs to groundwater and surface water at g L −1 to mg L −1 levels [10][11][12][13]. Moreover, PFASs are not efficiently eliminated through the WWT process, hence the release into downstream water bodies and whole water catchment areas can occur [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perfluoroalkyl substances in a firefighting training ground (FTG), distribution and potential future release

Baduel

Paxman

Mueller

2015

Journal of Hazardous Materials

119

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“…To conform to the strictest US regulations, the most heavily contaminated Canadian sites would have to achieve >99.6 percent removal to meet the applicable target concentrations. Some precursors are less mobile and undergo transformation reactions to produce other PFASs by aerobic biodegradation (McGuire et al, 2014), which could act as a source of dissolved phase contamination for up to 18 years (Weber, Barber, Leblanc, Sunderland, & Vecitis, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Situ treatment of PFAS‐impacted groundwater using colloidal activated Carbon

McGregor¹

2018

Remediation Journal

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Poly‐ and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been identified by many regulatory agencies as contaminants of concern within the environment. In recent years, regulatory authorities have established a number of health‐based regulatory and evaluation criteria with groundwater PFAS concentrations typically being less than 50 nanograms per liter (ng/L). Subsurface studies suggest that PFAS compounds are recalcitrant and widespread in the environment. Traditionally, impacted groundwater is extracted and treated on the surface using media such as activated carbon and exchange resins. These treatment technologies are generally expensive, inefficient, and can take decades to reach treatment objectives. The application of in situ remedial technologies is common for a wide variety of contaminants of concern such as petroleum hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds; however, for PFASs, the technology is currently emerging. This study involved the application of colloidal activated carbon at a site in Canada where the PFASs perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) were detected in groundwater at concentrations up to 3,260 ng/L and 1,450 ng/L, respectively. The shallow silty‐sand aquifer was anaerobic with an average linear groundwater velocity of approximately 2.6 meters per day. The colloidal activated carbon was applied using direct‐push technology and PFOA and PFOS concentrations below 30 ng/L were subsequently measured in groundwater samples over an 18‐month period. With the exception of perfluoroundecanoic acid, which was detected at 20 ng/L and perfluorooctanesulfonate which was detected at 40 ng/L after 18 months, all PFASs were below their respective method detection limits in all postinjection samples. Colloidal activated carbon was successfully distributed within the target zone of the impacted aquifer with the activated carbon being measured in cores up to 5 meters from the injection point. This case study suggests that colloidal activated carbon can be successfully applied to address low to moderate concentrations of PFASs within similar shallow anaerobic aquifers.

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Evidence of Remediation-Induced Alteration of Subsurface Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substance Distribution at a Former Firefighter Training Area

Cited by 225 publications

References 30 publications

A review of emerging technologies for remediation of PFASs

A review of emerging technologies for remediation of PFASs

Perfluoroalkyl substances in a firefighting training ground (FTG), distribution and potential future release

In Situ treatment of PFAS‐impacted groundwater using colloidal activated Carbon

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