Comparing PFAS removal across multiple groundwaters for eight GACs and alternative adsorbent

• DOI: 10.1002/aws2.1345
• Publication Date: 2023-06-13T07:41:05Z
• Authors: Manmeet W. Pannu; Joseph Chang; Ricardo Medina; Scott A. Grieco; Michael Hwang; Megan H. Plumlee
• Keywords: 01 natural sciences; 6. Clean water; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Abstract Eight granular activated carbons (GACs) and one alternative adsorbent (AA) were evaluated using rapid small‐scale column tests (RSSCTs) to remove low level per‐ polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from several groundwaters. Results suggested variability among waters for adsorbents reach breakthrough. Time breakthrough appeared be inversely proportional the background dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Bituminous GACs (particularly F400 UC1240LD) more effective than non‐bituminous. The elution order PFAS was PFHxA (C6) > PFBS (C4) PFOA (C8) PFHxS PFOS (C8). Multivariate regression predicted bed volumes at which reached significant exhaustion (defined here as 60%) only two parameters (humic acid, DOC). This merits further study these could potentially incorporated into models predicting VOCs presence negatively impacted adsorption on GAC. Relative GACs, AA not nearly by DOC showed superior performance.