A comprehensive review on the need for integrated strategies and process modifications for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) removal: Current insights and future prospects

Abstract

Alarming concern over the persistence and toxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment has created an imperative need for designing and redesigning strategies for their detection and remediation. Conventional PFAS removal technologies that uses physical, chemical, or biological methods. Increase in the diversity and quantity of PFAS entering the environment has necessitated the need for developing more advanced and integrated strategies for their removal. Despite of the advances reported in this domain, there exist a huge research gap that need to be mentored to tackle the problems associated with mitigation of combined toxicity of wide variety of PFAS in the environment. The possibility of PFAS to combine with other emerging contaminants poses an additional threat to the existing treatment methods thereby stressing the need for a continuous monitoring and updating the treatment processes. This review work aims at understanding the structure, entry, and fate of different types of PFAS in to the environment. Further an in-depth discussion regarding the different levels of toxicity associated with PFAS is elaborated in the review. The process description of recent PFAS remediation techniques along with their significance, limitations and possibility of integration is discussed in detail. Further a detailed outlook on the advantages and limitations of PFAS removal methods and an insight into the recently developed PFAS removal methods is outlined in this review.

Keywords

• PFAS toxicity
• PFAS removal
• PFAS transport
• PFAS removal strategies
• PFAS degradation