Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substance remediation from soil and sorbents: A review of adsorption behaviour and ultrasonic treatment

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are xenobiotics, present at variable concentrations in soils groundwater worldwide. Some of the current remediation techniques being researched or applied for PFAS-impacted involve solidification-stabilisation, soil washing, excavation disposal to landfill, on site situ smouldering, thermal desorption, ball milling incineration. Given large volumes requiring treatment, there is a need more environmentally friendly technique remove treat PFASs from soils. Sorbents such as granular/powdered activated carbon, ion exchange resins silicas used water treatment PFAS. In this work, PFAS adsorption mechanisms effect pore size, pH organic matter efficacy discussed. Then, sorbents considered when assessing viability techniques. Sonication-aided was predicted be an effective removal solid phase, varying frequency, power particle size effectiveness desorption process Causes mitigation strategies possible cavitation-induced erosion during ultrasound washing also identified. Following remediation, degrading extracted using sonolysis water-organic solvent mixture The implications future sorbent regeneration based findings study given. • sorb surfaces mainly due hydrophobic electrostatic interactions. affected by pore/particle concentration. Soil/sorbent viable impacted sorbent/soil regeneration. Ultrasound enhances higher temperatures mass transfer. Particle can controlled adjusting frequency.