Mass flows and fate of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the wastewater treatment plant of a fluorochemical manufacturing facility

Dauchy, Xavier; Boiteux, Virginie; Bach, Cristina; Colin, Adeline; Hémard, Jessica; Rosin, Christophe; Munoz, Jean-François

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.130

Cited by 133 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Taking into account the individual recovery of the PFASs detected on that day, 84% of the AOF concentration could be attributed to PFHxA. Therefore, the amount of unidentified PFASs in this sample was negligible compared to those found in other facility effluents (Dauchy et al 2017). …”

Section: Discharge Of F2 Facilitymentioning

confidence: 77%

The impact of two fluoropolymer manufacturing facilities on downstream contamination of a river and drinking water resources with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

Bach¹,

Boiteux²,

Colin³

et al. 2016

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are emerging contaminants that have been detected in the environment, biota, and humans. Drinking water is a route of exposure for populations consuming water contaminated by PFAS discharges. This research study reports environmental measurement concentrations, mass flows, and the fate of dozens of PFASs in a river receiving effluents from two fluoropolymer manufacturing facilities. In addition to quantified levels of PFASs using LC-and GC-MS analytical methods, the total amount of unidentified PFASs and precursors was assessed using two complementary analytical methods, absorbable organic fluorine (AOF) determination and oxidative conversion of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (PFCA) precursors. Several dozen samples were collected in the river (water and sediment) during four sampling campaigns. In addition, samples were collected in two well fields and from the outlet of the drinking water treatment plants after chlorination. We estimated that 4295 kg PFHxA, 1487 kg 6:2FTSA, 965 kg PFNA, 307 kg PFUnDA, and 14 kg PFOA were discharged in the river by the two facilities in 2013. High concentrations (up to 176 ng/g dw) of odd long-chain PFASs (PFUnDA and PFTrDA) were found in sediment samples. PFASs were detected in all 15 wells, with concentrations varying based on the location of the well in the field. Additionally, the presence of previously discharged PFASs was still measurable. Significant discrepancies between PFAS concentration profiles in the wells and in the river suggest an accumulation and transformation of PFCA precursors in the aquifer. Chlorination had no removal efficiency and no unidentified PFASs were detected in the treated water with either complementary analytical method. Although the total PFAS concentrations were high in the treated water, ranging from 86 to 169 ng/L, they did not exceed the currently available guideline values.

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Section: Discharge Of F2 Facilitymentioning

confidence: 77%

The impact of two fluoropolymer manufacturing facilities on downstream contamination of a river and drinking water resources with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

Bach¹,

Boiteux²,

Colin³

et al. 2016

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“…Many conventional remedial technologies used to address organic compounds, such as hydrocarbons and chlorinated solvents, are ineffective due to the low volatility of PFASs and their resistance to biodegradation. Technologies such as air sparging, oxygenation to induce aerobic conditions, and some forms of chemical oxidation have been shown to cause the transformation of polyfluorinated PFAA precursors into PFAAs (Dauchy et al., ; McGuire et al., ). Application of these technologies will likely increase the mass flux of PFASs from treatment zones.…”

Section: Treatment Of Pfassmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of emerging technologies for remediation of PFASs

Ross

McDonough

Miles

et al. 2018

Remediation Journal

354

268

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The need for remediation of poly‐ and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is growing as a result of more regulatory attention to this new class of contaminants with diminishing water quality standards being promulgated, commonly in the parts per trillion range. PFASs comprise >3,000 individual compounds, but the focus of analyses and regulations has generally been PFASs termed perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), which are all extremely persistent, can be highly mobile, and are increasingly being reported to bioaccumulate, with understanding of their toxicology evolving. However, there are thousands of polyfluorinated “PFAA precursors”, which can transform in the environment and in higher organisms to create PFAAs as persistent daughter products. Some PFASs can travel miles from their point of release, as they are mobile and persistent, potentially creating large plumes. The use of a conceptual site model (CSM) to define risks posed by specific PFASs to potential receptors is considered essential. Granular activated carbon (GAC) is commonly used as part of interim remedial measures to treat PFASs present in water. Many alternative treatment technologies are being adapted for PFASs or ingenious solutions developed. The diversity of PFASs commonly associated with use of multiple PFASs in commercial products is not commonly assessed. Remedial technologies, which are adsorptive or destructive, are considered for both soils and waters with challenges to their commercial application outlined. Biological approaches to treat PFASs report biotransformation which creates persistent PFAAs, no PFASs can biodegrade. Water treatment technologies applied ex situ could be used in a treatment train approach, for example, to concentrate PFASs and then destroy them on‐site. Dynamic groundwater recirculation can greatly enhance contaminant mass removal via groundwater pumping. This review of technologies for remediation of PFASs describes that: GAC may be effective for removal of long‐chain PFAAs, but does not perform well on short‐chain PFAAs and its use for removal of precursors is reported to be less effective; Anion‐exchange resins can remove a wider array of long‐ and short‐chain PFAAs, but struggle to treat the shortest chain PFAAs and removal of most PFAA precursors has not been evaluated; Ozofractionation has been applied for PFASs at full scale and shown to be effective for removal of total PFASs; Chemical oxidation has been demonstrated to be potentially applicable for some PFAAs, but when applied in situ there is concern over the formation of shorter chain PFAAs and ongoing rebound from sorbed precursors; Electrochemical oxidation is evolving as a destructive technology for many PFASs, but can create undesirable by‐products such as perchlorate and bromate; Sonolysis has been demonstrated as a potential destructive technology in the laboratory but there are significant challenges when considering scale up; Soils stabilization approaches are evolving and have been used at full scale but performance need to be assessed usin...

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“…In some cases, PFAS concentrations in the effluent have been higher than those observed in the influent (Filipovic & Berger, ; Guerra et al, ; Sinclair & Kannan, ). This has been attributed to the biodegradation of PFAA precursors to PFAAs (Arvaniti, Ventouri, Stasinakis, & Thomaidis, ; Dauchy et al, ; Schultz et al, ), which are terminal degradation products of PFAS (Arvaniti et al, ; Z. Wang et al, ). PFAAs can be produced from the breakdown of PFAA precursors or can be directly used in commercial and industrial products (Benskin, Li, Ikonomou, Grace, & Li, ; Favreau et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In some cases, PFAS concentrations in the effluent have been higher than those observed in the influent (Filipovic & Berger, 2015;Guerra et al, 2014;Sinclair & Kannan, 2006). This has been attributed to the biodegradation of PFAA precursors to PFAAs (Arvaniti, Ventouri, Stasinakis, & Thomaidis, 2012;Dauchy et al, 2017;Schultz et al, 2006), which are terminal degradation products of PFAS (Arvaniti et al, 2012;Z. Wang et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances in commercially available biosolid‐based products: The effect of treatment processes

Lazcano

Perre

Mashtare

et al. 2019

Water Environment Research

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Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used in a variety of consumer and industrial products and are known to accumulate in sewage sludge due to sorption and their recalcitrant nature. Treatment processes ensure safe and high‐quality biosolids by reducing the potential for adverse environmental impacts such as pathogen levels; however, they have yet to be evaluated for their impact on the fate of PFAS. The objective of this study was to compare PFAS concentrations in four commercially available biosolid‐based products that received different types of treatments: heat treatment, composting, blending, and thermal hydrolysis. Seventeen perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) were quantified using liquid chromatography with tandem quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry followed by screening for 30 PFAA precursors. Treatment processes did not reduce PFAA loads except for blending, which served only to dilute concentrations. Several PFAA precursors were identified with 6:2 and 8:2 fluorotelomer phosphate diesters in all samples pre‐ and post‐treatment. Practitioner points Heat treatment and composting increased perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) concentrations. Only dilution from blending with non‐PFAS material decreased PFAA concentrations. Thermal hydrolysis process had no apparent effect on PFAA concentrations. PFAS sources are a greater driver of PFAS loads in biosolid‐based products than treatment processes.

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Mass flows and fate of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the wastewater treatment plant of a fluorochemical manufacturing facility

Cited by 133 publications

References 48 publications

The impact of two fluoropolymer manufacturing facilities on downstream contamination of a river and drinking water resources with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

The impact of two fluoropolymer manufacturing facilities on downstream contamination of a river and drinking water resources with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

A review of emerging technologies for remediation of PFASs

Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances in commercially available biosolid‐based products: The effect of treatment processes

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