Parameters affecting the formation of perfluoroalkyl acids during wastewater treatment
Abstract
This study examined the fate and behaviour of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in liquid and solid samples from five different wastewater treatment types: facultative and aerated lagoons, chemically assisted primary treatment, secondary aerobic biological treatment, and advanced biological nutrient removal treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest data set from a single study available in the literature to date for PFAAs monitoring study in wastewater treatment. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the predominant PFAA in wastewater with levels from 2.2 to 150ng/L (influent) and 1.9 to 140ng/L (effluent). Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) was the predominant compound in primary sludge, waste biological sludge, and treated biosolids with concentrations from 6.4 to 2900ng/g dry weight (dw), 9.7 to 8200ng/gdw, and 2.1 to 17,000ng/gdw, respectively. PFAAs were formed during wastewater treatment and it was dependant on both process temperature and treatment type; with higher rates of formation in biological wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) operating at longer hydraulic retention times and higher temperatures. PFAA removal by sorption was influenced by different sorption tendencies; median log values of the solid-liquid distribution coefficient estimated from wastewater biological sludge and final effluent were: PFOS (3.73)>PFDA (3.68)>PFNA (3.25)>PFOA (2.49)>PFHxA (1.93). Mass balances confirmed the formation of PFAAs, low PFAA removal by sorption, and high PFAA levels in effluents.
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Different conditions during treatment processes, such as hydraulic retention time, aeration time, and microbial abundance, may affect PFAS removal.
“In a previous work, Guerra et al. reported that different condition during the treatment processes, such as hydraulic retention time, aeration time, and microbial abundance, may affect PFAS removal (Guerra et al., 2014).”
From Occurrence of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances in wastewater treatment plants in Northern Italy (2023) · cites this paper as Guerra et al., 2014
Plant B's higher PFAS removal is probably because it operated at longer hydraulic retention time (HRT, 12-14 h) compared to the other WWTPs.
“probably because it operated at longer hydraulic retention time (HRT, 12 -14 h) compared to the other WWTPs.”
From Occurrence of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances in wastewater treatment plants in Northern Italy (2023) · cites this paper as Guerra et al., 2014
Increase in POCIS uptake of NEtFOSAA in July of this study could indicate increased PFAS transformation in July, potentially due to amplified microbial activities with higher temperatures.
“However, increase in POCIS uptake of NEtFOSAA in July of this study could indicate increased PFAS transformation in July, potentially due to amplified microbial activities with higher temperatures”
From Occurrence, transformation, and transport of PFAS entering, leaving, and flowing past wastewater treatment plants with diverse land uses (2024) · cites this paper as Guerra et al., 2014
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- Authors
- Guerra, P., Kim, M., Kinsman, L., Ng, T., Alaee, M., & Smyth, S. A.
- Affiliations
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Smyth, S.A.
- Venue
- Journal of Hazardous Materials
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2014-05
- Volume
- 272
- Pages
- 148-154
- ISSN
- 0304-3894 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2080213917
- Cited by
- 115
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 5.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Hazardous Materials (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- 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 › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Keywords
- perfluoroalkyl acids, perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOS, wastewater treatment, biological sludge, biosolids, sorption, solid-liquid distribution coefficient, hydraulic retention time, processing temperature, mass balance, effluent contamination
- MeSH terms
- Canada, Caprylates, Environmental Monitoring, Fluorocarbons, Seasons, Sewage, Solubility, Temperature, Waste Disposal, Fluid, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Alkanesulfonic Acids, Water Purification, Wastewater
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