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Removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from aqueous media using synthesized silver nanocomposite-activated carbons

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Abstract

Purpose

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been found to be widespread, extremely persistent and bioaccumulative with toxicity tendencies. Pre-synthesized nanocomposite-activated carbons, referred to, as physically activated maize tassel silver (PAMTAg) and chemically activated maize tassel silver (CAMTAg) were utilized in the present study. They were used for the removal of 10 PFAS from aqueous solutions.

Methods

The nanocomposite-activated carbons were characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) and other techniques. Batch equilibrium experiments were conducted in order to investigate the effects of solution pH, adsorbent dosage, initial PFAS concentration and temperature on the removal of PFAS using PAMTAg and CAMTAg. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models were used to analyse the equilibrium data obtained.

Results

Maximum adsorption capacities of 454.1 mg/g (0.91 mmol/g) and 321.2 mg/g (0.78 mmol/g) were recorded for perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), respectively using CAMTAg. The values recorded for the Gibbs’ free energy (ΔG°) for the adsorption of PFOS and PFOA onto PAMTAg and CAMTAg were negative; PFOS (−9.61, −9.99 and − 10.39), PFOA (−8.77, −9.76 and − 10.21) using PAMTAg; and PFOS (−13.70, −12.70 and − 12.37), PFOA (−12.86, −12.21 and − 11.17) using CAMTAg. Therefore, the adsorption processes were spontaneous and feasible. The values recorded for enthalpy (ΔH°) (kJ/mol) for the adsorption of PFOS (−26.15) and PFOA (−35.86) onto CAMTAg were negative, indicating that the adsorption mechanism is exothermic in nature. Positive values were recorded for ΔH° for the adsorption of PFOS (2.32) and PFOA (12.69) onto PAMTAg, indicative of an endothermic adsorption mechanism. Positive entropy (ΔS°) values (0.04 and 0.07) were recorded for PFOS and PFOA using PAMTAg; whereas negative values (−0.04 and − 0.08) were recorded for ΔS° using CAMTAg. A positive ΔS° indicates an increase in randomness of the adsorbate at the solid-solution interface and the reverse is the case for a negative ΔS°.

Conclusion

The interplay of electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic interactions enabled the removal of PFAS using PAMTAg and CAMTAg. Findings suggest that PAMTAg and CAMTAg are effective for the removal of PFAS from aqueous media and are good alternatives to commercially available activated carbons.

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Data availability

Data that are closely related to the present study showing the effects of pH, adsorption dosage and initial PFAS concentration on the adsorption mechanism of PFAS using inactivated maize tassel powder have been reviewed and stored in the Mendeley Data Repository. Data are available at; https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/ykb39rn322/1

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies (GEMES), Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa

    Patricia N. Omo-Okoro & Christopher J. Curtis

  2. Department of Environmental, Water & Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Arcadia Campus, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    Patricia N. Omo-Okoro & Jonathan O. Okonkwo

  3. RECETOX, Masaryk University, Brno, 62500, Czech Republic

    Ana Miralles Marco & Lisa Melymuk

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  1. Patricia N. Omo-Okoro
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  2. Christopher J. Curtis
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  5. Jonathan O. Okonkwo
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Correspondence to Jonathan O. Okonkwo.

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Highlights

• Electrostatic attraction is involved in the adsorption of PFAS in the present study

• Hydrophobic interaction also plays a significant role in the adsorption of PFAS

• Maximum adsorption capacities were recorded using CAMTAg

• The Freundlich model suits the isotherm data better than the Langmuir model

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Omo-Okoro, P.N., Curtis, C.J., Marco, A.M. et al. Removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from aqueous media using synthesized silver nanocomposite-activated carbons. J Environ Health Sci Engineer 19, 217–236 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-020-00597-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-020-00597-3

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