PFAS removal through foam harvesting during wastewater aeration

IF 12.2 1区 环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL
Angel Chyi En We , Anthony D. Stickland , Bradley O. Clarke , Stefano Freguia
{"title":"PFAS removal through foam harvesting during wastewater aeration","authors":"Angel Chyi En We ,&nbsp;Anthony D. Stickland ,&nbsp;Bradley O. Clarke ,&nbsp;Stefano Freguia","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137936","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aeration in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is used for removal of organic matter and nutrients. Here we show that aeration can also lead to removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), by foam fractionation. Rising air bubbles facilitate air-liquid interfacial adsorption of PFAS and spontaneous foaming occurrence. This suggests that some modifications to conventional treatment processes that enable foam removal may be sufficient to achieve PFAS removal at WWTPs. However, high suspended solids concentrations in the mixed liquor suspension within the aerated bioreactors may complicate PFAS removal in foam fractionation, as both air bubbles and suspended biomass retain PFAS. This study explored the feasibility of foam fractionation for PFAS removal and enrichment using actual mixed liquor suspensions with typical total suspended solids concentrations and WWTP-relevant PFAS concentrations. The mechanisms involved in PFAS removal and enrichment in both aqueous and solid phases were suggested, and a mass balance analysis was performed to show PFAS distribution between the two phases. Overall, PFAS removal from the aqueous phase ranged from 70 % to 100 % for PFAS with perfluorinated carbon numbers ≥ 6, while PFAS with perfluorinated carbon numbers &lt; 6 showed low removal of &lt; 20 %. PFAS removal from the solid phase ranged from 20 % to 60 %, depending on the PFAS species. This study represents an ongoing effort to advance the potential implementation of foam fractionation in aerated bioreactors at WWTPs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"491 ","pages":"Article 137936"},"PeriodicalIF":12.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389425008520","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0

Abstract

Aeration in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is used for removal of organic matter and nutrients. Here we show that aeration can also lead to removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), by foam fractionation. Rising air bubbles facilitate air-liquid interfacial adsorption of PFAS and spontaneous foaming occurrence. This suggests that some modifications to conventional treatment processes that enable foam removal may be sufficient to achieve PFAS removal at WWTPs. However, high suspended solids concentrations in the mixed liquor suspension within the aerated bioreactors may complicate PFAS removal in foam fractionation, as both air bubbles and suspended biomass retain PFAS. This study explored the feasibility of foam fractionation for PFAS removal and enrichment using actual mixed liquor suspensions with typical total suspended solids concentrations and WWTP-relevant PFAS concentrations. The mechanisms involved in PFAS removal and enrichment in both aqueous and solid phases were suggested, and a mass balance analysis was performed to show PFAS distribution between the two phases. Overall, PFAS removal from the aqueous phase ranged from 70 % to 100 % for PFAS with perfluorinated carbon numbers ≥ 6, while PFAS with perfluorinated carbon numbers < 6 showed low removal of < 20 %. PFAS removal from the solid phase ranged from 20 % to 60 %, depending on the PFAS species. This study represents an ongoing effort to advance the potential implementation of foam fractionation in aerated bioreactors at WWTPs.

Abstract Image

求助全文
约1分钟内获得全文 求助全文
来源期刊
Journal of Hazardous Materials
Journal of Hazardous Materials 工程技术-工程:环境
CiteScore
25.40
自引率
5.90%
发文量
3059
审稿时长
58 days
期刊介绍: The Journal of Hazardous Materials serves as a global platform for promoting cutting-edge research in the field of Environmental Science and Engineering. Our publication features a wide range of articles, including full-length research papers, review articles, and perspectives, with the aim of enhancing our understanding of the dangers and risks associated with various materials concerning public health and the environment. It is important to note that the term "environmental contaminants" refers specifically to substances that pose hazardous effects through contamination, while excluding those that do not have such impacts on the environment or human health. Moreover, we emphasize the distinction between wastes and hazardous materials in order to provide further clarity on the scope of the journal. We have a keen interest in exploring specific compounds and microbial agents that have adverse effects on the environment.
×
引用
GB/T 7714-2015
复制
MLA
复制
APA
复制
导出至
BibTeX EndNote RefMan NoteFirst NoteExpress
×
提示
您的信息不完整,为了账户安全,请先补充。
现在去补充
×
提示
您因"违规操作"
具体请查看互助需知
我知道了
×
提示
确定
请完成安全验证×
copy
已复制链接
快去分享给好友吧!
我知道了
右上角分享
点击右上角分享
0
联系我们:info@booksci.cn Book学术提供免费学术资源搜索服务,方便国内外学者检索中英文文献。致力于提供最便捷和优质的服务体验。 Copyright © 2023 布克学术 All rights reserved.
京ICP备2023020795号-1
ghs 京公网安备 11010802042870号
Book学术文献互助
Book学术文献互助群
群 号:481959085
Book学术官方微信