Cited by 256Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances researchEnvironmental remediation with nanomaterialsFluorine in Organic Chemistry

A Review of the Applications, Environmental Release, and Remediation Technologies of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

Open access
Meegoda, Jay N., Kewalramani, Jitendra A., Li, Brian, Marsh, Richard W.·2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are pollutants that have demonstrated a high level of environmental persistence and are very difficult to remediate. As the body of literature on their environmental effects has increased, so has regulatory and research scrutiny. The widespread usage of PFAS in industrial applications and consumer products, complicated by their environmental release, mobility, fate, and transport, have resulted in multiple exposure routes for humans. Furthermore, low screening levels and stringent regulatory standards that vary by state introduce considerable uncertainty and potential costs in the environmental management of PFAS. The recalcitrant nature of PFAS render their removal difficult, but existing and emerging technologies can be leveraged to destroy or sequester PFAS in a variety of environmental matrices. Additionally, new research on PFAS remediation technologies has emerged to address the efficiency, costs, and other shortcomings of existing remediation methods. Further research on the impact of field parameters such as secondary water quality effects, the presence of co-contaminants and emerging PFAS, reaction mechanisms, defluorination yields, and the decomposition products of treatment technologies is needed to fully evaluate these emerging technologies, and industry attention should focus on treatment train approaches to improve efficiency and reduce the cost of treatment.

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Crossref · 10.3390/ijerph17218117

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  • The hydrophobic and lipophobic nature of PFAS can be primarily attributed to the low polarizability of fluorine atoms, combined with the presence of a stable terminal functional group attached to the fluoroalkyl chain.

    “Additionally, the hydrophobic and lipophobic nature of PFAS can be primarily attributed to the low polarizability of fluorine atoms, combined with the presence of a stable terminal functional group attached to the fluoroalkyl chain (Gagliano et al., 2020; Meegoda et al., 2020).”

    From Estimation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) half-lives in human studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Meegoda et al., 2020

    Section 4, Physical and Chemical Properties, directly attributes PFAS hydrophobicity and lipophobicity to fluorine’s low polarizability. It says functional groups affect PFAS properties, but does not describe a stable terminal functional group as a cause of those two properties. No page numbers are provided in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Membrane systems, especially RO, are expensive compared to GAC and ion exchange.

    “Membrane systems, especially RO are expensive compared to GAC and ion exchange [23].”
  • Longer-chain PFAS compounds typically exhibit higher sorption affinities for soil, influenced by hydrophobic interactions and the molecular size of the compounds.

    “Longer-chain PFAS compounds typically exhibit higher sorption affinities for soil, influenced by hydrophobic interactions and the molecular size of the compounds [87,88].”

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Cites

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3 of the 183 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. [77]Zemba S. PFAS Cycling Between Landfills and WWTPs Proceedings of the Environmental Research and Education Summit (EREF) Ann Arbor, MI, USA 14–15 August 2019
  2. [183]Scollitt-Davis J. AECOM to Launch PFAS Solution DE-FLUOROTM at CleanUp 2019 in Adelaide Available online: https://aecom.com/press-releases/aecom-to-launch-pfas-solution-de-fluoro-at-cleanup-2019-in-adelaide/#:~:text=PressRelease-,AECOMtolaunchPFASsolutionDE-FLUORO,atCleanUp2019inAdelaide&text=ADELAIDE(Sept.,‘PFAS’)atCleanUp2019 (accessed on 7 March 2020)
  3. [202]Brunner G. Hydrothermal and Supercritical Water Processes Elsevier Oxford, UK 2014
  4. [208]Field J.A. PFASs in Leachate and Wastewater Proceedings of the Environmental Research and Education Summit (EREF) Ann Arbor, MI, USA 14–15 August 2019

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Authors
Meegoda, J. N., Kewalramani, J. A., Li, B., & Marsh, R. W.
Affiliations
  • New Jersey Institute of Technology (US)
  • Princeton University (US)
Corresponding author
Meegoda, Jay N.
Venue
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2020-11-03
Volume
17
Issue
21
Pages
8117
ISSN
1660-4601 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3095851882
Cited by
256
References
183
Citations by year
2026: 61 · 2025: 71 · 2024: 53 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 12
FWCI
1.29
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Science Foundation (2016168)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Environmental remediation with nanomaterials
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Fluorine in Organic Chemistry
Keywords
per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS, environmental persistence, environmental release, PFAS fate and transport, human exposure pathways, PFAS regulation, remediation strategies, defluorination, emerging PFAS, co-contaminants, treatment train
MeSH terms
Construction Materials, Environmental Pollutants, Fluorocarbons, Humans, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Water Quality

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