article · npj Clean Water
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic, highly persistent water pollutants due to their robust carbon-fluorine bonds and unique physico-chemical properties. Although various destructive and non-destructive treatment methods have been explored, techniques capable of complete PFAS destruction and mineralisation remain largely restricted to bench-scale testing. Current research predominantly relies on laboratory experiments using ideal conditions that fail to mirror complex, real-world contaminated water. Major barriers preventing full-scale implementation include interference from competing background compounds, secondary pollution of air or water, excessive energy intensity, elevated costs, and inappropriate reactor designs. Furthermore, a scarcity of pilot-scale and full-scale operational data restricts large-scale system optimisation. Combining technologies into integrated systems or multi-stage treatment trains offers a practical route to achieve effective separation, removal, and complete destruction of PFAS in contaminated water sources.
PFAS chemicals resist natural breakdown and contaminate water supplies worldwide. While laboratory experiments show promise for breaking down these hazardous substances, current solutions struggle to transition to real-world infrastructure. Identifying the technical, economic, and environmental bottlenecks that hinder industrial deployment is vital for developing viable, scalable remediation technologies that protect public water supplies.
The work focuses on industrial and municipal water remediation applications. Complete destruction technologies currently sit at early-stage bench scale, while some removal methods operate at pilot or industrial scale. Commercial deployment is hindered by reactor design limitations, high operating costs, energy intensity, and secondary emissions. Prospective developers and water treatment operators must consider multi-technology treatment trains and integrated systems to bridge the gap between laboratory concepts and robust, scalable commercial units.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Abstract Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals that are highly resistant to degradation because of the strong C-F bond and their unique physico-chemical properties. Several techniques, both destructive and non-destructive, have been explored for removing PFAS from contaminated water. However, the most desirable techniques, ideally capable of effective separation and complete PFAS destruction and mineralization, have not progressed beyond bench-scale testing. This paper provides an overview of the existing treatment techniques demonstrated at laboratory, pilot, and industrial scales, and their associated treatment mechanisms. Insufficient data on pilot-scale and full-scale applications for PFAS remediation has limited the optimization and advancement of these systems at a large scale. Most research related to PFAS-remediation is based on laboratory-scale studies under ideal conditions that do not represent the complexity of PFAS-contaminated media. Factors such as inhibition by competing background compounds and secondary water or air pollution limit the application of some PFAS removal techniques at full-scale. Additionally, high energy intensity, cost, and inappropriate reactor design restrict the scalability of some proposed innovations. Here, we propose integrated systems and treatment trains as potential approaches to effectively remove and destroy PFAS from contaminated waters. This review also offers and contextualizes implementation barriers and scalable approaches for PFAS treatment.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1038/s41545-025-00457-3
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
