These fire-suppression foams, heavily laden with poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have for decades contributed to significant environmental pollution. PFAS are notably resilient, forming strong fluorine-to-carbon bonds that resist natural degradation and persist in the environment.
Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency mandated that water utilities must act to reduce PFAS levels exceeding 4 parts per trillion. The new cleanup strategy, detailed in this month's issue of Nature Water, combines ultraviolet light, sulfite, and electrochemical oxidation to effectively treat contaminated water. "We put these two steps together and we achieved near-complete destruction of PFAS in various water samples contaminated by the foams," said Jinyong Liu, associate professor at UCR, who has extensively studied PFAS remediation.
Liu highlighted the technical challenges overcome by the collaboration with Yang Yang, assistant professor at Clarkson, noting that other organic compounds in the foams previously hindered PFAS bond breakdown. Their method facilitates these reactions at room temperature, offering a practical approach to managing complex contaminated water scenarios.
"PFAS compounds are ubiquitous, found in products from potato chip bags to non-stick cookware; however, their extensive use in aviation fire-fighting foams has made them a notable source of groundwater pollution," explained Liu.
The Department of Defense has conducted PFAS release assessments at numerous military sites, with many requiring further investigation or remediation. Liu's method not only addresses direct contamination from firefighting equipment and foam storage but also supports water utilities in treating polluted groundwater. It enhances the regeneration and reuse of resin beads used in water treatment, aligning with sustainable management practices.
This research was funded by the U.S. Department of Defense's Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program and is detailed in the study titled "Near-complete destruction of PFAS in aqueous film-forming foam by integrated photo-electrochemical processes," co-authored by Liu, Yang, and their graduate students.
Research Report:Near-complete destruction of PFAS in aqueous film-forming foam by integrated photo-electrochemical processes
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University of California - Riverside
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