Commercial‐scale removal of short‐chain PFAS in a batch‐wise adsorptive bubble separation process by dosing with cationic co‐surfactant

Abstract Studies performed by Burns et al. in 2021 and 2022 demonstrated that a three‐stage batch‐wise adsorptive bubble separation process, surface active foam fractionation (SAFF), is effective at removing most per‐ polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) from contaminated groundwaters landfill leachates. However, PFAS species with very low adsorption coefficients to surfaces are difficult remove, which parallel the difficulties short‐chain granulated activated carbon beds other solid media. It well known coefficient improves presence of electrolytes solution it has previously been shown this removal PFAS. By developing correlation for percentage one or another due SAFF commercial‐scale processes as function coefficient, possible generally estimate any The addition cationic co‐surfactant, cetrimonium bromide, feed can significantly further improve and, consequence, materially SAFF. A method estimating improved performance qualitative agreement plant trials North American site history groundwater contamination use aqueous film forming foams firefighting foams, but precise improvements appear be dependent upon concentration added co‐surfactant. required co‐surfactant larger than might expected on charge equivalence considerations, may its consumption feed, including have not accounted for. noted process true may, instead, fractionator, both collectively described term “adsorptive processes.”