OR 10 - Adsorption of Perfluoroalkyl Substances from Water Using Functional Hydrogel Composites
OR 10 - Adsorption of Perfluoroalkyl Substances from Water Using Functional Hydrogel Composites
Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS, are a large group of anthropogenic chemicals widely used in firefighting foams, surface coatings, textiles, and food packaging. Their remarkable chemical and thermal stability, derived from the strong carbon fluorine bond, makes them resistant to natural degradation processes. As a result, PFAS have accumulated in aquatic environments worldwide and are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals.” Exposure to PFAS has been linked to a wide range of adverse health outcomes, including developmental and reproductive toxicity, immunological effects, and increased cancer risk. These concerns have driven growing attention toward the development of effective remediation technologies [1].
In this study, we investigated the adsorption performance of novel hydrogel carbon composites designed to overcome the limitations of conventional powdered sorbents. Hydrogels were synthesized from polymeric precursors with distinct functionalities, including hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and amine groups, yielding networks with tailored swelling and cross-linking characteristics. A nanostructured carbon phase was incorporated into the hydrogel matrices to combine polymer flexibility with high surface activity [2]. Batch adsorption experiments with perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOA, as a model contaminant revealed rapid kinetics, with equilibrium attained within a few hours, and significantly enhanced sorption capacity compared to both pristine hydrogels and carbon powder alone. The role of hydrogel chemistry was evident, as adsorption efficiency strongly depended on hydrophilicity, cross-link density, and the presence of amine functionalities. Furthermore, adsorption isotherms carried out on a mixture of 23 different PFAS provided insight into competitive uptake under more realistic conditions. Contaminant concentrations before and after treatment were quantified by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, LC–MS/MS with triple quadrupole detection, ensuring high sensitivity at environmentally relevant concentration levels [3]. Overall, the results highlight the strong potential of hydrogel carbon composites for broad-spectrum PFAS removal. Their tunable chemical composition, together with the synergy between hydrogel swelling and carbon surface activity, makes them promising candidates for scalable water treatment solutions targeting persistent contaminants.
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