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Research article2019Peer reviewed

Stabilization and solidification remediation of soil contaminated with poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)

Sorengard, Mattias; Kleja, Dan B.; Ahrens, Lutz

Abstract

Remediation methods for soils contaminated with poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are urgently needed to protect the surrounding environment and drinking water source areas from pollution. In this study, the stabilization and solidification (S/S) technique was tested on aged PFAS-contaminated soil that were artificially spiked with 14 PFAS. To further reduce leaching of PFASs in S/S-treated soil, seven different additives were tested at 2% concentration: powdered activated carbon (PAC), Rembind, pulverized zeolite, chitosan, hydrotalcite, bentonite, and calcium chloride. Standardized leaching tests on S/S-treated soil revealed that leaching of 13 out of 14 target PFASs (excluding perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBA)) was reduced by, on average, 70% and 94% by adding PAC and Rembind (R). Longer-chained PFASs such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), which is considered persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic, were stabilized by 99.9% in all S/S treatments when PAC or Rembind was used as an additive. The S/S stabilization efficiency depended on PFAS perfluorocarbon chain length and functional group, e.g., it increased on average by 11-15 % per CF3-moeity and was on average 49% higher for the perfluorosulfonates (PFCAs) than the perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs). Overall, the S/S treatment with active carbon-based additives showed excellent performance in reducing leaching of PFASs, without marked loss of physical matrix stability.

Keywords

PFAS; PFOS; Stabilzation; Solidification; Remediation

Published in

Journal of Hazardous Materials
2019, Volume: 367, pages: 639-646

      SLU Authors

        • Sustainable Development Goals

        Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
        Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
        Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

        UKÄ Subject classification

        Environmental Management
        Organic Chemistry
        Analytical Chemistry

        Publication identifier

        DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.01.005

        Permanent link to this page (URI)

        https://res.slu.se/id/publ/98130