TY - JOUR
T1 - GenX is not always a better fluorinated organic compound than PFOA
T2 - A critical review on aqueous phase treatability by adsorption and its associated cost
AU - Heidari, Hamed
AU - Abbas, Tauqeer
AU - Ok, Yong Sik
AU - Tsang, Daniel C.W.
AU - Bhatnagar, Amit
AU - Khan, Eakalak
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was carried out with the support of the “ Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science and Technology Development (Project No. PJ01475801 ),” Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea (Prof. Yong Sik Ok).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2021/10/15
Y1 - 2021/10/15
N2 - Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX) has been marketed as a substitute for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to reduce environmental and health risks. GenX and PFOA have been detected in various natural water sources, and adsorption is recognized as a typical treatment process for PFOA removal. In this paper, comparisons of GenX and PFOA adsorption are evaluated, including adsorption potential, adsorption mechanisms, and associated costs. A detailed literature review suggests that anion-exchange resins are more effective in removing GenX than activated carbon. GenX removal efficiency through activated carbon (30%) is lower than that of PFOA (80–95%), while GenX and PFOA removal efficiencies by anion exchange resins are similar (99%). Unconventional adsorbents, such as ionic fluorogels and covalent organic frameworks can effectively remove GenX from water. The review reveals that GenX adsorption is more challenging, requiring almost 4 times the treatment cost of its predecessor, PFOA. Annual operation and maintenance costs for GenX adsorption (initial concentration of GenX and PFOA = 0.2 µg.L−1) by GAC for treating 10,000 m3 per day is almost US$1,000,000 per year, but only around US$240,000 per year for PFOA. Desorption of GenX in the presence of PFOA highlights GenX's inferior treatability by adsorption. It is believed that GenX is a more environmentally friendly compound than PFOA, but this environmental friendliness comes with the price.
AB - Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX) has been marketed as a substitute for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to reduce environmental and health risks. GenX and PFOA have been detected in various natural water sources, and adsorption is recognized as a typical treatment process for PFOA removal. In this paper, comparisons of GenX and PFOA adsorption are evaluated, including adsorption potential, adsorption mechanisms, and associated costs. A detailed literature review suggests that anion-exchange resins are more effective in removing GenX than activated carbon. GenX removal efficiency through activated carbon (30%) is lower than that of PFOA (80–95%), while GenX and PFOA removal efficiencies by anion exchange resins are similar (99%). Unconventional adsorbents, such as ionic fluorogels and covalent organic frameworks can effectively remove GenX from water. The review reveals that GenX adsorption is more challenging, requiring almost 4 times the treatment cost of its predecessor, PFOA. Annual operation and maintenance costs for GenX adsorption (initial concentration of GenX and PFOA = 0.2 µg.L−1) by GAC for treating 10,000 m3 per day is almost US$1,000,000 per year, but only around US$240,000 per year for PFOA. Desorption of GenX in the presence of PFOA highlights GenX's inferior treatability by adsorption. It is believed that GenX is a more environmentally friendly compound than PFOA, but this environmental friendliness comes with the price.
KW - Activated carbon
KW - Drinking water
KW - Emerging contaminants
KW - Remediation technologies
KW - Water treatment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85116026588&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117683
DO - 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117683
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34607087
AN - SCOPUS:85116026588
SN - 0043-1354
VL - 205
JO - Water Research
JF - Water Research
M1 - 117683
ER -
