Uptake of Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances at the Air–Water Interface
Abstract
Bench-scale experiments were performed to assess uptake of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), both single compounds and mixtures, at the air–water interface. The focus was on evaluating uptake at field-relevant PFAS concentrations (<2 × 10 –4 mol m –3 or 0.1 mg L –1 ), assessing the impacts of various PFAS mixtures, and quantifying the impacts of background NaCl concentrations. Both interfacial tension measurements and direct quantification of PFAS mass sorbed at the air–water interface in water films were used to evaluate PFAS interfacial partitioning. Results showed that a Freundlich-based model, rather than a Langmuir-based model, described perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) interfacial uptake. At lower and field-relevant PFOS and PFOA concentrations, the Langmuir-based model underpredicted interfacial uptake by up to several orders of magnitude. The interfacial partition coefficient, k aw, increased as PFAS concentrations decreased. Results also showed that the interfacial tension and interfacial uptake of PFAS mixtures were (within a factor of 2) predicted based on the single solute systems assuming ideal dilute behavior. Furthermore, the addition of NaCl at concentrations of up to 0.01 M increased PFOS uptake by less than a factor of 2 at field-relevant PFOS concentrations. The results presented herein have important implications for PFAS migration in unsaturated soils as well as for remedial technologies that rely on PFAS interfacial sorption, particularly at field-relevant PFAS concentrations.
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Our estimates of Kai for PFOA (10-2.9-10-2.7 cm) and PFOS (10-2.6-10-2.1 cm) agree with values reported from laboratory studies conducted at field-relevant concentrations.
“Our estimates of Kai for PFOA (10–2.9–10–2.7 cm) and PFOS (10–2.6–10–2.1 cm) agree with values reported from laboratory studies conducted at field-relevant concentrations (Table S18).38,39”
From Centurial Persistence of Forever Chemicals at Military Fire Training Sites (2023) · cites this paper as [38]
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Self-citationThe influence of surfactant and solution composition on PFAS adsorption at fluid-fluid interfaces
Brusseau, M. L., & Van Glubt, S. (2019) · Water Research · doi:10.1016/j.watres.2019.05.095 · Cited by 180 · see citing works
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PFAS Molecules: A Major Concern for the Human Health and the Environment
Panieri, E., Baralic, K., Djukic-Cosic, D., Buha Djordjevic, A., & Saso, L. (2022) · Toxics · doi:10.3390/toxics10020044 · Cited by 651 · see citing works
Sima, M. W., & Jaffé, P. R. (2021) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143793 · Cited by 242 · see citing works
Fate and transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the vadose zone
Sharifan, H., Bagheri, M., Wang, D., Burken, J. G., Higgins, C. P., Liang, Y., Liu, J., Schaefer, C. E., & Blotevogel, J. (2021) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145427 · Cited by 180 · see citing works
Self-citationCenturial Persistence of Forever Chemicals at Military Fire Training Sites
Ruyle, B. J., Thackray, C. P., Butt, C. M., LeBlanc, D. R., Tokranov, A. K., Vecitis, C. D., & Sunderland, E. M. (2023) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.3c00675 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Mass-Based, Field-Scale Demonstration of PFAS Retention within AFFF-Associated Source Areas
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Self-citationA modified HYDRUS model for simulating PFAS transport in the vadose zone
Silva, J. A. K., Šimůnek, J., & McCray, J. E. (2020) · Water · doi:10.3390/w12102758 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Characterization of relevant site-specific PFAS fate and transport processes at multiple AFFF sites
Adamson, D. T., Kulkarni, P. R., Nickerson, A., Higgins, C. P., Field, J., Schwichtenberg, T., Newell, C., & Kornuc, J. J. (2022) · Environmental Advances · doi:10.1016/j.envadv.2022.100167 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
McGarr, J. T., Mbonimpa, E. G., McAvoy, D. C., & Soltanian, M. R. (2023) · Soil Systems · doi:10.3390/soilsystems7020053 · Cited by 75 · see citing works
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Beryani, A., Furén, R., Österlund, H., Tirpak, A., Smith, J., Dorsey, J., Winston, R. J., Viklander, M., & Blecken, G.-T. (2024) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.4c05170 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
- Authors
- Schaefer, C. E., Culina, V., Nguyen, D., & Field, J.
- Affiliations
- CDM Smith (United States) (US)
- Oregon State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Schaefer, Charles E.
- Venue
- Environmental Science & Technology
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2019-10-02
- Volume
- 53
- Issue
- 21
- Pages
- 12442-12448
- ISSN
- 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5851
- OpenAlex
- W2977421026
- Cited by
- 166
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 25 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 6.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Defense (W912HQ-18-C-0075)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Surfaces, Coatings and Films › Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Fluorine in Organic Chemistry
- Keywords
- per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS, air-water interface, interfacial partitioning, perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOS, PFAS mixtures, interfacial tension, Freundlich isotherm, Langmuir isotherm, unsaturated soil, PFAS remediation
- MeSH terms
- Fluorocarbons, Soil, Surface Tension, Water
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