Using Electrochemical Oxidation to Remove PFAS in Simulated Investigation-Derived Waste (IDW): Laboratory and Pilot-Scale Experiments

Repeated use of aqueous firefighting foams at military aircraft training centers has contaminated groundwater with per and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS). To delineate the extent PFAS contamination, numerous site investigations have occurred, which generated large quantities investigation-derived wastes (IDW). The commonly used treatment incinerating PFAS-tainted IDW is costly, was recently suspended by Department Defense. Given long-term storage in warehouses not sustainable, our objective to electrochemical oxidation degrade water then scale technology toward treatment. This accomplished conducting a series laboratory pilot-scale experiments that electrochemically oxidized using direct current boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. improve destruction efficiency, understand factors influencing degradation rates, we quantified effects density, pH, electrolyte chain length. By 14C-labeled perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) tracking temporal changes both 14C-activity fluoride concentrations, showed carboxylic head (-14COOH ? 14CO2) possible up 60% bonded fluorine released into solution. We also reported efficacy low-cost, 3D printed, four-electrode BDD reactor treat 189 L PFOA PFOS-contaminated (Co ? 10 µg L?1). Temporal monitoring LC/MS/MS this pilot study PFOS concentrations decreased from 9.62 L?1 non-detectable (<0.05 L?1) while dropped concentration 8.16 0.114 L?1. Efforts reaction kinetics are ongoing, but results support electrodes as potential for IDW.