Due to their exceptional chemical stability, few degradative treatment options exist for removal of poly- and perfluorinated contaminants (PFCs) from water. Several homogenous advanced oxidation and reduction methods have been studied in recent years, though less attention has been given to heterogeneous photocatalytic processes. Commonly used semiconductor photocatalysts are not effective at degrading PFCs due to insufficient redox potential; however, we have explored wider-band gap materials including BiPO4, Bi3O(OH)(PO4)3 and β-Ga2O3 and achieved photocatalytic degradation of perfluorocarboxylic acids under UVC irradiation. In some cases, the removal kinetics were comparable to that of phenol degradation by TiO2. Photocatalytic degradation of perfluorosulfonates presents even greater challenges, and requires advanced reduction strategies. Progress in the design of materials for photocatalytic reduction of PFCs, as well as scale-up aspects for treatment of contaminated groundwater will be presented.

Materials for photocatalytic oxidative and reductive mineralization of per/poly-fluorinated contaminants

256th National Meeting (2018)

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