Pilot-Scale Continuous Foam Fractionation for the Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from Landfill Leachate

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are of concern for their ubiquity in the environment combined with their persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic properties. Landfill leachate is often contaminated with these chemicals, and therefore, the development of cost-efficient water treatment technologies is urgently needed. The present study investigated the applicability of a pilot-scale foam fractionation setup for the removal of PFAS from natural landfill leachate in a novel continuous operating mode. A benchmark batch test was also performed to compare treatment efficiency. The Sigma PFAS removal efficiency plateaued around 60% and was shown to decrease for the investigated process variables air flow rate (Q(air)), collected foam fraction (%(foam)) and contact time in the column (t(c)). For individual long-chain PFAS, removal efficiencies above 90% were obtained, whereas the removal for certain short-chain PFAS was low (

Keywords

per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances; water treatment; foam fractionation; landfill leachate; pilot-scale

Published in

ACS ES&T water
2022, volume: 2, number: 5, pages: 841-851

SLU Authors

• Smith, Sanne

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Wiberg, Karin

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Ahrens, Lutz

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Global goals (SDG)

SDG6 Clean water and sanitation

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.2c00032

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/120479