Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in consumer products and have posed a concern for public health because of the evidence of their adverse human health effects. Recent studies have shown that an autotrophic bacterium, <i>Acidimicrobiaceae sp</i>. strain A6 (A6 from here on), has the ability to defluorinate PFAS under anaerobic conditions. As an iron reducing bacterium, A6 is able to use solid ferric iron compound as the extracellular electron acceptor and has shown electrogenicity. Due to this characteristic, bacterium A6 has been grown in the microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) successfully with the anode as electron acceptor and has produced current while removing ammonium. To investigate the defluorination of PFAS by A6 in bioelectrochemical systems, PFAS were introduced into A6-inoculated MECs as well as microbial electrolysis continuous-flow reactors. Graphite plates and stainless steel meshes were used as electrode materials in the MECs, while granules of graphite with stainless steel mesh and Pt-coated carbon clothes were placed in the microbial electrolysis reactor to ensure larger anode surface area and to catalyze the cathodic reaction. Preliminary results show that fluoride and acetate were produced when FPAS were added into the MECs inoculated with A6. This indicates that degradation of PFAS through defluorination by A6 occurred in the MECs. In addition, A6 still produced current in the presence of PFAS, meaning introducing PFAS as electron acceptor into MECs does not fully suppress the electron transfer to the anode from A6. As continuous flow can provide fresh medium constantly, higher current production and better PFAS degradation are expected. With the ability to degrade PFAS with simultaneous ammonium removal under anaerobic condition, the A6-inoculated MECs and microbial electrolysis reactors have good application prospects for PFAS contaminated water treatment and remediation.

Bioelectrochemical treatment of per- ad Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) using <i>Acidimicrobiaceae</i> sp. Strain A6

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

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Bioelectrochemical treatment of per- ad Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) using Acidimicrobiaceae sp. Strain A6