Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1021/acs.est.0c04558
Document accepted manuscript
Title (Primary) Photodegradation of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid on Fe-zeolites in water
Author Qian, L.; Kopinke, F.-D.; Georgi, A.
Source Titel Environmental Science & Technology
Year 2021
Department TUCHEM
Volume 55
Issue 1
Page From 614
Page To 622
Language englisch
Topic T7 Bioeconomy
Supplements https://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/acs.est.0c04558/suppl_file/es0c04558_si_001.pdf
Abstract Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) decomposition in an aqueous environment remains a huge challenge because of its extreme chemical and biological inertness even when compared with other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). In this work, we demonstrate for the first time a successful photochemical PFOS degradation by irradiation with 254 nm ultraviolet (UV) light after adsorption on μm-sized Fe(III)-loaded zeolites under ambient conditions with oxygen (O2) as the terminal oxidant. Twenty μM PFOS loaded on 0.5 g L–1 Fe-zeolites in aqueous suspension was degraded up to 99% within 96 h under acidic conditions (pH ≤ 5.5) in the presence of oxygen. Besides fluoride and sulfate, short-chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) were identified and quantified as products. In addition, the effects of initial pH, catalyst dosages, and operation temperature on the degradation of PFOS were investigated. We also successfully applied the system to real groundwater samples where trace PFOS was present. Our results indicate that PFOS degradation is initiated by electron transfer from sulfonate to iron. The presented experimental study offers an option for a novel water remediation technology, comprising first a zeolite-based adsorption step followed by a step for photochemical regeneration of the adsorbent.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=24028
Qian, L., Kopinke, F.-D., Georgi, A. (2021):
Photodegradation of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid on Fe-zeolites in water
Environ. Sci. Technol. 55 (1), 614 - 622 10.1021/acs.est.0c04558