Ahrens, Lutz
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
Increased awareness of pervasive per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination and the need for zero-pollution treatment solutions necessitate the scientific and engineering community to respond urgently and systematically. Existing approaches lack reproducible and standardized methods to report the technological treatment capabilities. Consequently, it is difficult to compare innovations and accurately assess their potential. In this Perspective, we shed light on hurdles encountered in the lab-scale research and development of aqueous PFAS destruction technologies with a focus on chemical methods and offer recommendations for overcoming them. Best practices are provided for developing robust PFAS laboratory protocols covering crucial aspects such as experimental planning, sample storage and analysis, and waste management. Further, we present five criteria to standardize reporting on performance and advances in PFAS degrading technologies: 1) scope, 2) defluorination efficiency, 3) relative energy consumption, 4) material stability, and 5) unit process considerations. Through the dissemination of these insights, we aim to foster progress in the development of highly effective treatment solutions.
Keywords
perfluoroalkyl substances; laboratory research; early stage development; technology comparison; reporting standards
Published in
Environmental Science and Technology
2025, volume: 59, number: 18, pages: 8939 - 8950
Publisher: AMER CHEMICAL SOC
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Environmental Sciences
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c08571
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/141869