Removal of PFASs from biosolids using a semi-pilot scale pyrolysis reactor and the application of biosolids derived biochar for the removal of PFASs from contaminated water

Kundu, Sazal; Patel, Savankumar; Halder, Pobitra; Patel, Tejas; Marzbali, Mojtaba Hedayati; Pramanik, Biplob Kumar; Paz‐Ferreiro, Jorge; Figueiredo, Cícero Célio de; Bergmann, David; Surapaneni, Aravind; Megharaj, Mallavarapu; Shah, Kalpit

doi:10.1039/d0ew00763c

Cited by 48 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Fortunately, most organic contaminants are destroyed with high efficiency during pyrolysis, by thermal degradation and volatilization followed by destruction during vapor combustion. This has been shown for PAHs (Zielińska & Oleszczuk, 2015), polychlorinated biphenyls (Bridle et al, 1990), per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS; Kundu et al, 2021), microplastics (Ni et al, 2020), antimicrobials (Ross et al, 2016), antibiotics (Tian et al, 2019), antibiotic resistance genes (Kimbell et al, 2018), and hormones (estrogen; Hoffman et al, 2016).…”

Section: Biochar's Role In the Circular Economymentioning

confidence: 91%

How biochar works, and when it doesn't: A review of mechanisms controlling soil and plant responses to biochar

et al. 2021

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We synthesized 20 years of research to explain the interrelated processes that determine soil and plant responses to biochar. The properties of biochar and its effects within agricultural ecosystems largely depend on feedstock and pyrolysis conditions. We describe three stages of reactions of biochar in soil: dissolution (1–3 weeks); reactive surface development (1–6 months); and aging (beyond 6 months). As biochar ages, it is incorporated into soil aggregates, protecting the biochar carbon and promoting the stabilization of rhizodeposits and microbial products. Biochar carbon persists in soil for hundreds to thousands of years. By increasing pH, porosity, and water availability, biochars can create favorable conditions for root development and microbial functions. Biochars can catalyze biotic and abiotic reactions, particularly in the rhizosphere, that increase nutrient supply and uptake by plants, reduce phytotoxins, stimulate plant development, and increase resilience to disease and environmental stressors. Meta‐analyses found that, on average, biochars increase P availability by a factor of 4.6; decrease plant tissue concentration of heavy metals by 17%–39%; build soil organic carbon through negative priming by 3.8% (range −21% to +20%); and reduce non‐CO2 greenhouse gas emissions from soil by 12%–50%. Meta‐analyses show average crop yield increases of 10%–42% with biochar addition, with greatest increases in low‐nutrient P‐sorbing acidic soils (common in the tropics), and in sandy soils in drylands due to increase in nutrient retention and water holding capacity. Studies report a wide range of plant responses to biochars due to the diversity of biochars and contexts in which biochars have been applied. Crop yields increase strongly if site‐specific soil constraints and nutrient and water limitations are mitigated by appropriate biochar formulations. Biochars can be tailored to address site constraints through feedstock selection, by modifying pyrolysis conditions, through pre‐ or post‐production treatments, or co‐application with organic or mineral fertilizers. We demonstrate how, when used wisely, biochar mitigates climate change and supports food security and the circular economy.

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Section: Biochar's Role In the Circular Economymentioning

confidence: 91%

How biochar works, and when it doesn't: A review of mechanisms controlling soil and plant responses to biochar

et al. 2021

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“…Kim et al (2015) conducted pyrolysis experiments with wastewater solids at laboratory scale at 300°C and 700°C, finding no significant change of PFAS in the biochar. By contrast, Kundu et al (2021) demonstrated removal of all measured PFAS species in a municipal biosolid sample to non‐detect levels in char at temperatures ranging from 500°C to 600°C. Xiao et al (2020) investigated the thermal stability of several PFAS on granular activated carbon (GAC) in various reducing atmospheres.…”

Section: Unregulated Chemical Removal and Destructionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Kim et al (2015) conducted pyrolysis experiments with wastewater solids at laboratory scale at 300 C and 700 C, finding no significant change of PFAS in the biochar. By contrast, Kundu et al (2021) demonstrated removal of all measured PFAS species in a municipal biosolid sample to non-detect levels in char at temperatures ranging from 500 C to 600 C. Xiao et al (2020) investigated the thermal stability of several PFAS on granular activated carbon (GAC) in various reducing atmospheres. The study observed that more than 80% of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) adsorbed on GAC was converted to fluoride ions at temperatures exceeding 700 C, and concentrations of both compounds were reduced by more than 99.9%.…”

Section: Pfasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pyrolysis and gasification at water resource recovery facilities: Status of the industry

Winchell

Ross

Brose

et al. 2022

Water Environment Research

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Wastewater treatment generates solids requiring subsequent processing. Costs and contaminant concerns (e.g., per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS]) are challenging widely used landfilling and land application practices. These circumstances are partly driving the re‐emergence of pyrolysis and gasification technologies along with beneficial reuse prospects of the char solid residual. Previously, technologies experienced operational challenges leading to revised configurations, such as directly coupling a thermal oxidizer to the reactor to destroy tar forming compounds. This paper provides an overview of pyrolysis and gasification technologies, characteristics of the char product, air emission considerations, and potential fate of PFAS and other pollutants through the systems. Results from a survey of viable suppliers illustrate differences in commercially available options. Additional research is required to validate performance over the long‐term operation and confirm contaminant fate, which will help determine whether resurging interest in pyrolysis and gasification warrants widespread adoption. Practitioner Points Pyrolysis and gasification systems are re‐emerging in the wastewater industry. Direct coupling of thermal oxidizers and other modifications offered by contemporary systems aim to overcome past failures. Process conditions when coupled with a thermal oxidizer will likely destroy most organic contaminants, including PFAS, but requires additional research. Three full‐scale facilities recently operated, several in construction or design that will provide operating experience for widespread technology adoption consideration.

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“…A research evaluated the adsorption of PFAS by biochars produced by the conversion of biosolids from wastewater treatment plants at three different temperatures (500, 550, and 600 °C), and compared their performance with a sawdust biomass biochar (Kundu et al, 2021). The 600 °C biochar (BSBC-600) had higher surface area, thus it was selected for the adsorption tests, where the results showed that for long-chain PFASs the adsorption was above 80%, while for short-chain PFASs was in the range of 19-27%.…”

Section: Adsorptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection and Tertiary Treatment Technologies of Poly-and Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Wastewater Treatment Plants

Araújo

Rodríguez-Hernández

González-González

et al. 2022

Front. Environ. Sci.

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PFAS are a very diverse group of anthropogenic chemicals used in various consumer and industrial products. The properties that characterize are their low degradability as well as their resistance to water, oil and heat. This results in their high persistence in the environment and bioaccumulation in different organisms, causing many adverse effects on the environment as well as in human health. Some of their effects remain unknown to this day. As there are thousands of registered PFAS, it is difficult to apply traditional technologies for an efficient removal and detection for all. This has made it difficult for wastewater treatment plants to remove or degrade PFAS before discharging the effluents into the environment. Also, monitoring these contaminants depends mostly on chromatography-based methods, which require expensive equipment and consumables, making it difficult to detect PFAS in the environment. The detection of PFAS in the environment, and the development of technologies to be implemented in tertiary treatment of wastewater treatment plants are topics of high concern. This study focuses on analyzing and discussing the mechanisms of occurrence, migration, transformation, and fate of PFAS in the environment, as well the main adverse effects in the environment and human health. The following work reviews the recent advances in the development of PFAS detection technologies (biosensors, electrochemical sensors, microfluidic devices), and removal/degradation methods (electrochemical degradation, enzymatic transformation, advanced oxidation, photocatalytic degradation). Understanding the risks to public health and identifying the routes of production, transportation, exposure to PFAS is extremely important to implement regulations for the detection and removal of PFAS in wastewater and the environment.

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Removal of PFASs from biosolids using a semi-pilot scale pyrolysis reactor and the application of biosolids derived biochar for the removal of PFASs from contaminated water

Abstract: This study focuses on the conversion of biosolids to biochar and its further use in adsorbing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from contaminated water. In particular, the study aims to...

Cited by 48 publications

References 58 publications

How biochar works, and when it doesn't: A review of mechanisms controlling soil and plant responses to biochar

How biochar works, and when it doesn't: A review of mechanisms controlling soil and plant responses to biochar

Pyrolysis and gasification at water resource recovery facilities: Status of the industry

Detection and Tertiary Treatment Technologies of Poly-and Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Wastewater Treatment Plants

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