Use of strong anion exchange resins for the removal of perfluoroalkylated substances from contaminated drinking water in batch and continuous pilot plants

Zaggia, Alessandro; Conte, L.; Falletti, Luigi; Fant, Massimo; Chiorboli, Andrea

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2015.12.039

Cited by 287 publications

(200 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…This is reported to allow formation of a dense layer of PFASs which repels both water and oil, which is described to be more pronounced as the perfluoroalkyl chains lengthen, which allows closer packing of PFAAs. Large molecular macroaggregates of PFASs were reported to form in the intraparticle pores of IXs indicating mechanisms other than ion exchange are involved in removal of PFASs from the aqueous phase (Zaggia, Conte, Falletti, Fant, & Chiorboli, ). This “molecular brush” mechanism of surface interaction may also prove to be relevant in fate and transport of PFASs in the environment.…”

Section: Overview Of Pfas Environmental Chemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several IXs with a range of functional groups that enable different types of selectivity were assessed for the removal of a small number of PFASs from water (Du et al., ). While many ion exchange resins are effective for either long‐ or short‐chain PFASs, more novel resins are reported to have higher sorption capacities for both long‐chain and some short‐chain PFASs compared with GAC (Zaggia et al., ). While IXs are more expensive than GAC by weight and often require pretreatment, the potential for higher adsorption capacities, shorter contact times, smaller equipment footprints, and the ability to regenerate may be more favorable for some applications (Higgins & Dickenson, ; Merino et al., ).…”

Section: Water Treatment Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Resins fall broadly into two types: ion exchange and non‐ion exchange: IXs consist of a synthetic polymeric structure with a charged functional group balanced by a counter ion affixed to a polystyrene or polyacrylic bead. PFAS removal occurs primarily by exchange of the counter ion leading to electrostatic interactions, although other interactions such as hydrophobic interactions within the IXs due to agglomerated PFASs are also a significant removal mechanism (Zaggia et al., ). Non‐IXs are neutral synthetic polymeric structures. They do not contain exchangeable ionic sites and thus bind substrates by non‐ionic interactions, such as hydrophobic and van der Waals interactions following diffusion‐controlled migration of the substrate into the matrix.…”

Section: Water Treatment Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research to date has focused on removal of anionic PFAAs only, primarily PFOS and PFOA using anion‐exchange (Deng, Yu, Huang, & Yu, ; Yu, Hu, Tanaka, & Fujii, ; Zaggia et al., ) and non‐IXs (Senevirathna et al., ). Senevirathna et al.…”

Section: Water Treatment Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

A review of emerging technologies for remediation of PFASs

Ross

McDonough

Miles

et al. 2018

Remediation Journal

408

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: Overview Of Pfas Environmental Chemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Water Treatment Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Water Treatment Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Water Treatment Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A review of emerging technologies for remediation of PFASs

Ross

McDonough

Miles

et al. 2018

Remediation Journal

408

268

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Adsorption using granular activated carbon (GAC) or ion exchange (IX) resin is emerging through research (Meng et al, ; Yang et al, ; Yu, Zhang, Deng, Huang, & Yu, ; Zhi & Liu, , ) and as commercially available best available treatments for PFAS that many groundwater utilities are considering or have recently installed. Carbon chain length and functional groups are important factors controlling PFAS adsorption; longer‐chain PFAS are generally more amenable to GAC and IX resin adsorption than the shorter‐chain PFAS, and perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs) normally have higher adsorption capacity and selectivity than perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) (McCleaf et al, ; Rostvall et al, ; Xiao, Ulrich, Chen, & Higgins, ; Zaggia, Conte, Falletti, Fant, & Chiorboli, ). Existing research focuses on treating PFOA and PFOS (Meng et al, ; Yang et al, ; Yu et al, ; Zhi & Liu, , ), often using model waters spiked with one or more PFAS compounds at equal concentrations, commonly at higher concentrations than detected in groundwaters used as drinking water supplies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Removing per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances from groundwaters using activated carbon and ion exchange resin packed columns

et al. 2020

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Human exposure to per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water is of growing concern as a result of increasing reports of occurrence and potential regulation. Adsorption of PFAS by granular activated carbon (GAC) or ion exchange (IX) resin is a suitable treatment technique. However, few studies compare PFAS removal in continuous flow GAC or IX adsorption systems using real drinking water sources. In this study, rapid small‐scale column tests (RSSCTs) were used to investigate the effects of PFAS type and chain length on adsorption by GAC and IX resin for six groundwaters used as drinking water supplies. Seven PFAS substances with chain lengths of C4–C9 were detected in the groundwaters with the sum of their concentrations (ΣPFAS) ranging from 156 to 7,044 ng/L. Adsorption capacities (qΣPFAS) were calculated to compare the removal capacity among different sorbents and qΣPFAS values ranged from 10.3 to 228 ng PFAS/mg sorbent after about 100,000 bed volumes treated. Coal‐based GACs had higher adsorption capacity compared with coconutshell‐based GAC, which was likely due to higher mesopore and macropore volumes. IX resins performed better than GAC in removing PFAS, but they were not effective in treating short‐chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs). Perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs) broke through later than PFCAs with the same chain length. Within PFSA or PFCA classes, shorter‐chain PFAS species always broke through before longer‐chain PFAS. Statistical analysis demonstrated that PFAS with higher hydrophobicity and molecular weight are more amenable to GAC adsorption. Empirical models were developed and predicted PFAS breakthrough. By quantifying PFAS selectivity and removal efficiency, this work provides benchmark data for commercially available treatment technologies and guidance toward specific PFAS classes for which new treatment technologies may be most beneficial.

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Hydrolytically Stable Ionic Fluorogels for High‐Performance Remediation of Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from Natural Water

et al. 2022

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PFAS are known bioaccumulative and persistent chemicals which pollute natural waters globally. There exists a lack of granular sorbents to efficiently remove both legacy and emerging PFAS at environmentally relevant concentrations. Herein, we report a class of polymer networks with a synergistic combination of ionic and fluorous components that serve as granular materials for the removal of anionic PFAS from water. A library of Ionic Fluorogels (IFs) with systematic variation in charge density and polymer network architecture was synthesized from hydrolytically stable fluorous building blocks. The IFs were demonstrated as effective sorbents for the removal of 21 legacy and emerging PFAS from a natural water and were regenerable over multiple cycles of reuse. Comparison of one IF to a commercial ion exchange resin in mini-rapid smallscale column tests demonstrated superior performance for the removal of short-chain PFAS from natural water under operationally relevant conditions.

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Use of strong anion exchange resins for the removal of perfluoroalkylated substances from contaminated drinking water in batch and continuous pilot plants

Cited by 287 publications

References 24 publications

A review of emerging technologies for remediation of PFASs

A review of emerging technologies for remediation of PFASs

Removing per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances from groundwaters using activated carbon and ion exchange resin packed columns

Hydrolytically Stable Ionic Fluorogels for High‐Performance Remediation of Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from Natural Water

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