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Breaking the “Forever Chemical” Cycle: A Critical Review of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Solid Waste Sources and Their Fate During Thermal Treatment
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A critical review of thermal treatment technologies for PFAS-containing solid waste found that incineration and smoldering combustion can exceed 99.99% destruction efficiency but release problematic short-chain byproducts, while pyrolysis risks phase transfer into oils. PFAS and microplastics frequently co-occur in solid waste streams, and understanding thermal treatment limitations is essential for developing comprehensive plastic waste management strategies.
The persistence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) poses a significant challenge in solid waste management. This paper systematically reviews the distribution characteristics of PFASs in various solid waste streams, including industrial sludge, food packaging, textiles, and electronic waste. It also evaluates the removal efficiency of four thermal treatment technologies—incineration, pyrolysis, smoldering combustion, and hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL)—for PFASs in solid waste. Although incineration and smoldering combustion can achieve destruction and removal efficiencies exceeding 99.99%, the release of short-chain byproducts remains a critical bottleneck. Pyrolysis effectively decontaminates solid-phase products but carries the risk of phase transfer into pyrolysis oils. The efficiency of HTL is highly dependent on process parameters. PFAS degradation is a radical-mediated process initiated by the dissociation of functional groups. We emphasize that substrate surface properties and the presence of counterions play pivotal roles in modulating these reaction pathways. The introduction of water vapor (as a hydrogen-rich medium), alkaline additives, or specific catalysts is considered a promising strategy to inhibit the recombination of reactive byproducts and enhance mineralization rates.
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Leading Techniques for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) Remediating in Water and Wastewater
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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called "forever chemicals," are highly persistent contaminants found in water and soil worldwide. This review evaluates the leading remediation techniques available for removing PFAS from contaminated environments, comparing their effectiveness, scalability, and cost. Given PFAS's resistance to natural degradation, engineered removal strategies are essential for protecting drinking water sources and ecosystems.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in sewage sludge: challenges of biological and thermal treatment processes and potential threats to the environment from land disposal
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This review summarizes data on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as 'forever chemicals') found in sewage sludge, which is commonly spread on farmland. Current biological and thermal treatment methods struggle to fully remove these persistent chemicals from sludge. While focused on PFAS rather than microplastics, the findings are relevant because both contaminants accumulate in sludge and enter the food chain when that sludge is applied to agricultural soil.
Prospects of Novel Technologies for PFAS Destruction in Water and Wastewater
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This review examines novel technologies for permanently destroying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water and wastewater, critically evaluating advanced oxidation, electrochemical, and thermally driven approaches capable of breaking the extremely strong C-F bond to fully mineralize these persistent pollutants.
Analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) extraction from contaminated firefighting materials: Effects of cleaning agent, temperature, and chain-length dependencies
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Researchers tested how effectively 22 types of PFAS "forever chemicals" — used in firefighting foam and gear — can be removed from contaminated materials using different washing methods and temperatures. They found that shorter-chain PFAS compounds wash out more easily, and that higher temperatures improve removal, but PFAS levels can slowly rebound in materials days after cleaning.
Lithium-ion battery recycling: a source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the environment?
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Researchers reviewed the use of fluorinated substances, particularly per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in lithium-ion batteries and the risks posed by battery recycling processes. The study suggests that while high-temperature pyrometallurgy can mineralize PFAS, the increasingly popular lower-temperature hydrometallurgy approach may lead to incomplete degradation and release of persistent fluorinated substances.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.