Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widely detected in natural and treated water, which has caused global ecosystem pollution. Physical separation (e.g. adsorption) is considered a practical and economic approach to rapidly remove PFASs from contaminated water, because of the strong C-F bonds that are recalcitrant to conventional biological and chemical destruction. Mesoporous silica has been emerging as a promising material for the removal of a broad suite of waterborne contaminants, due to its large surface area that provides abundant sorption sites and ordered pore structure that promotes mass transfer of adsorbates. In the present work, we prepared a suite of mesoporous silica materials modified with various surface functionalities to target the removal of a range of PFASs with a primary focus on short- and long-chained perfluorocarboxylic and perfluorosulfonic acids (PFCAs/PFSAs). The as-synthesized mesoporous silica materials were extensively characterized for surface area, porosity, charge, functionality, morphology, and pore structure. The adsorption behaviors of PFASs were examined by determining the adsorption kinetics and isotherms, as well as the impact of various water chemistry parameters. Results suggested that surface functionality played a critical role on the sorbent performance that a proper surface modification of mesoporous silica can achieve highly efficient PFASs removal under different water matrices. This presentation will focus on material synthesis, characterization, and performance evaluation in environmentally relevant conditions.

Adsorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on functionalized mesoporous silica

2019 Spring National Meeting

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