Occurrence, Fate, and Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Small- and Large-Scale Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities in the United States.

ABSTRACT: Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) could be conduits of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminants in the environment. This study investigated the fate of 40 PFAS compounds across nine municipal WWTPs with varying treatment capacity and processes. High concentrations of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs) were detected in wastewater, with the ratio of their total concentrations (∑PFCAs/∑PFSAs) always greater than one. Transformation of precursors by activated sludge processes significantly increased the concentrations of short-chain PFCAs (e.g., perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)), while further advanced treatment processes offered minimal removal of perfluoroalkyl acids. Treatment capacity and PFAS removal

SUBMITTER: Kim J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11650586 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature