Sustainable Remediation Strategies and Technologies of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)-Contaminated Soils: A Critical Review

Rosario Napoli, Filippo Fazzino, Federico G. A. Vagliasindi and Pietro P. Falciglia ()
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Rosario Napoli: Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 64, 95125 Catania, Italy
Filippo Fazzino: Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 64, 95125 Catania, Italy
Federico G. A. Vagliasindi: Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 64, 95125 Catania, Italy
Pietro P. Falciglia: Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 64, 95125 Catania, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-37

Abstract: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been reported to contaminate soil as a result of improper management of waste, wastewater, landfill leachate, biosolids, and a large and indiscriminate use of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF), posing potential risks to human health. However, their high chemical and thermal stability pose a great challenge for remediation. As a result, there is an increasing interest in identifying and optimizing very effective and sustainable technologies for PFAS removal. This review summarizes both traditional and innovative remediation strategies and technologies for PFAS-contaminated soils. Unlike existing literature, which primarily focuses on the effectiveness of PFAS remediation, this review critically discusses several techniques (based on PFAS immobilization, mobilization and extraction, and destruction) with a deep focus on their sustainability and scalability. PFAS destruction technologies demonstrate the highest removal efficiencies; however, thermal treatments face sustainability challenges due to high energy demands and potential formation of harmful by-products, while mechanical treatments have rarely been explored at full scale. PFAS immobilization techniques are less costly than destruction methods, but issues related to the regeneration/disposal of spent sorbents should be still addressed and more long-term studies conducted. PFAS mobilization techniques such as soil washing/flushing are hindered by the generation of PFAS-laden wastewater requiring further treatments, while phytoremediation is limited to small- or medium-scale experiments. Finally, bioremediation would be the cheapest and least impactful alternative, though its efficacy remains uncertain and demonstrated under simplified lab-scale conditions. Future research should prioritize pilot- and full-scale studies under realistic conditions, alongside comprehensive assessments of environmental impacts and economic feasibility.

Keywords: persistent organic contaminants; sustainability; scalability; physicochemical technologies; bioremediation; thermal treatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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