Modulator Dependent PFAS Adsorption with a Porous Solid

Abstract

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are man-made chemicals designed to be heat, water, grease, and oil resistant. These properties allow them to be used in adhesives, fire-fighting materials, non-stick cooking surfaces, food packaging, clothing, and more. Due to the resistive properties of PFAS, when they are introduced to the environment they don’t break down. PFAS spread in the environment and humans and animals are exposed to them which causes a variety of negative health effects to be studied. Our goal is to use materials including commercial activated carbon, graphene, graphene oxide, nitrogen sulfur co-doped graphene, biochar from corn cob, and activated carbon from Douglas fir wood for PFAS adsorption. The adsorption capacity of different adsorbents was measured in batch systems in room conditions. We tested both short chain PFAS like PFBA and long chain PFAS like PFOA. Current sampling shows the best adsorption capacity by activated carbon from Douglas fir wood.