Removal of PFOS, PFOA and other perfluoroalkyl acids at water reclamation plants in South East Queensland Australia
Abstract
This paper examines the fate of perfluorinated sulfonates (PFSAs) and carboxylic acids (PFCAs) in two water reclamation plants in Australia. Both facilities take treated water directly from WWTPs and treat it further to produce high quality recycled water. The first plant utilizes adsorption and filtration methods alongside ozonation, whilst the second uses membrane processes and advanced oxidation to produce purified recycled water. At both facilities perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were the most frequently detected PFCs. Concentrations of PFOS and PFOA in influent (WWTP effluent) ranged up to 3.7 and 16 ng L⁻¹ respectively, and were reduced to 0.7 and 12 ng L⁻¹ in the finished water of the ozonation plant. Throughout this facility, concentrations of most of the detected perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) remained relatively unchanged with each successive treatment step. PFOS was an exception to this, with some removal following coagulation and dissolved air flotation/sand filtration (DAFF). At the second plant, influent concentrations of PFOS and PFOA ranged up to 39 and 29 ng L⁻¹. All PFCs present were removed from the finished water by reverse osmosis (RO) to concentrations below detection and reporting limits (0.4-1.5 ng L⁻¹). At both plants the observed concentrations were in the low parts per trillion range, well below provisional health based drinking water guidelines suggested for PFOS and PFOA.
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The re-introduction of RO reject water at WWTP-2 is likely contributing to the elevated PFAS concentrations observed in the final effluent.
“Therefore, the re-introduction of RO reject water at this WWTP is likely contributing to the elevated PFAS concentrations observed in the final effluent.”
From An investigation into per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in nineteen Australian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) (2019) · cites this paper as [41]
Mean concentrations of PFAS in aqueous samples were similar to concentrations previously reported for Australian WWTP aqueous samples.
“Mean concentrations of PFAS in aqueous samples were similar to concentrations previously reported for Australian WWTP aqueous samples [37, 41, 43].”
From An investigation into per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in nineteen Australian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) (2019) · cites this paper as [41]
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- Authors
- Thompson, J., Eaglesham, G., Reungoat, J., Poussade, Y., Bartkow, M., Lawrence, M., & Mueller, J. F.
- Affiliations
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- Queensland Health (AU)
- Veolia (Australia) (AU)
- Seqwater (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Thompson, Jack
- Venue
- Chemosphere
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-01
- Volume
- 82
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 9-17
- ISSN
- 0045-6535 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2000984489
- Cited by
- 198
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 4.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Chemosphere (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Queensland Health
- University of Queensland
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Membrane Separation Technologies
- Keywords
- perfluorinated compounds, PFOS, perfluorooctanoic acid, PFHxS, perfluorohexanoic acid, perfluoroalkyl acids, water reclamation plant, reclaimed water, wastewater treatment plant effluent, ozonation, reverse osmosis, advanced oxidation processes, dissolved air flotation, adsorption, membrane treatment, PFOS removal
- MeSH terms
- Caprylates, Fluorocarbons, Fresh Water, Ozone, Queensland, Waste Disposal, Fluid, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Alkanesulfonic Acids, Water Purification
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