Additive-Free Ball Milling in Stainless Steel Mills Enables Destruction of PFAS on Granular Activated Carbon.

ABSTRACT: Granular activated carbon (GAC) is widely employed for the removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from aqueous systems. However, the safe management of spent, PFAS-laden GAC remains a pressing environmental challenge. Mechanochemical ball milling has recently emerged as a novel treatment paradigm for PFAS destruction under ambient conditions, typically requiring co-milling reagents such as SiO₂, KOH, or boron nitride. In this study, we report an unprecedented finding that PFAS adsorbed on GAC can be degraded by milling with stainless steel (SS) balls in SS jars, without the need for additional reagents. In this process, the SS balls and jars not only provide mechanical energy but also act as electron donors, transferring electrons to the carbon substrate that subs

SUBMITTER: Zhu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12613813 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature