Nano-enhanced treatment of per-fluorinated and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS)

Per-fluorinated and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally pervasive and persistent. They have been associated with adverse health effects and are a major public health concern. Water contamination is a highly challenging problem due to the large number of PFAS and the limitations of conventional treatments. Nanoscale technologies offer new approaches such as high-capacity, selective sorbents with rapid uptake and regeneration, and integrated methods that capture and destroy PFAS. Nano-enhanced materials can improve the kinetics and selectivity of PFAS uptake (physical removal) and destruction, and the treatment materials can potentially be reused/recycled. Nanoscale technologies also offer opportunities to improve the performance of most conventional treatments. Some recent nano-enhanced approaches for PFAS treatment of aqueous media are discussed in this paper.