Rapid Removal of Poly- and Perfluorinated Alkyl Substances by Poly(ethylenimine)-Functionalized Cellulose Microcrystals at Environmentally Relevant Conditions

Abstract

Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in many consumer products and present serious environmental challenges due to their persistent nature. Currently, conventional water treatment methods fail to remove PFAS, and other newly proposed materials/techniques face challenges when employed under realistic conditions. This study reports on poly(ethylenimine)-functionalized cellulose microcrystals (PEI-f-CMC) that showed a near-instant and high removal of PFAS under concentrations relevant to their actual occurrence in the natural environment (i.e., <1000 ng/L). The selective removal efficiency of 22 PFAS from different classes (i.e., legacy carboxylic and sulfonated PFAS, emerging carboxylic and sulfonated PFAS, and PFAS-precursors) using PEI-f-CMC was confirmed in lake water as well as solutions codosed with two additional types of natural organic matter. The performance of PEI-f-CMC was maintained in eight consecutive adsorption/regeneration cycles to remove PFAS. The PEI-f-CMC with its unique fast kinetics and high adsorption activity toward PFAS exhibits a great potential for being a promising alternative adsorbent for PFAS control.

Reduction of a Tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile‐β‐Cyclodextrin Polymer to Remove Anionic Micropollutants and Perfluorinated Alkyl Substances from Water

“…In analogous experiments performed with GAC, we found that 2 performs similarly to PAC for the removal of many anionic PFASs, but outperforms PAC for the removal of PFBA (Figure S4). This is particularly exciting because only limited removal of short‐chain PFASs such as PFBA has been reported with PAC or other alternative adsorbents . Together, these findings indicate the promise of 2 for the removal of anionic PFASs regardless of their chain‐length.…”

Nitrile Reduction Reverses the Micropollutant Uptake Selectivity of a Tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile-β-Cyclodextrin Polymer

“…This is particularly exciting because only limited removal of short-chain PFASs such as PFBA has been reported with PAC or other alternative adsorbents. 35 Together, our findings suggest that 2 could be a viable and non-selective adsorbent for the removal of anionic PFASs regardless of their chain-length.…”

Degradation of pesticides using amine-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals

“…[43][44][45][46] We have also explored the use of PEI-modied cellulose microcrystals for the removal of poly-and peruorinated surfactants from water. 47 In this study, we evaluated the use of a series of amine-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) to serve as a new material for the remediation of pesticide residues from water or organic solvent.…”