Electrothermal mineralization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances for soil remediation

Yi Cheng, Bing Deng (), Phelecia Scotland, Lucas Eddy, Arman Hassan, Bo Wang, Karla J. Silva, Bowen Li, Kevin M. Wyss, Mine G. Ucak-Astarlioglu, Jinhang Chen, Qiming Liu, Tengda Si, Shichen Xu, Xiaodong Gao, Khalil JeBailey, Debadrita Jana, Mark Albert Torres, Michael S. Wong, Boris I. Yakobson, Christopher Griggs, Matthew A. McCary, Yufeng Zhao () and James M. Tour ()
Additional contact information
Yi Cheng: Rice University
Bing Deng: Rice University
Phelecia Scotland: Rice University
Lucas Eddy: Rice University
Arman Hassan: Rice University
Bo Wang: Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT)
Karla J. Silva: Rice University
Bowen Li: Rice University
Kevin M. Wyss: Rice University
Mine G. Ucak-Astarlioglu: U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Center
Jinhang Chen: Rice University
Qiming Liu: Rice University
Tengda Si: Rice University
Shichen Xu: Rice University
Xiaodong Gao: Rice University
Khalil JeBailey: Rice University
Debadrita Jana: Rice University
Mark Albert Torres: Rice University
Michael S. Wong: Rice University
Boris I. Yakobson: Rice University
Christopher Griggs: U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Center
Matthew A. McCary: Rice University
Yufeng Zhao: Rice University
James M. Tour: Rice University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent and bioaccumulative pollutants that can easily accumulate in soil, posing a threat to environment and human health. Current PFAS degradation processes often suffer from low efficiency, high energy and water consumption, or lack of generality. Here, we develop a rapid electrothermal mineralization (REM) process to remediate PFAS-contaminated soil. With environmentally compatible biochar as the conductive additive, the soil temperature increases to >1000 °C within seconds by current pulse input, converting PFAS to calcium fluoride with inherent calcium compounds in soil. This process is applicable for remediating various PFAS contaminants in soil, with high removal efficiencies ( >99%) and mineralization ratios ( >90%). While retaining soil particle size, composition, water infiltration rate, and cation exchange capacity, REM facilitates an increase of exchangeable nutrient supply and arthropod survival in soil, rendering it superior to the time-consuming calcination approach that severely degrades soil properties. REM is scaled up to remediate soil at two kilograms per batch and promising for large-scale, on-site soil remediation. Life-cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis demonstrate REM as an environmentally friendly and economic process, with a significant reduction of energy consumption, greenhouse gas emission, water consumption, and operation cost, when compared to existing soil remediation practices.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49809-6

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