Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become a class of important emerging contaminants in soil and water due to their wide-spread application, resistance to environmental degradation and potential health effect. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is one of the most detected PFAS and has been included in the EPA health advisories. Most conventional techniques including oxidation and reduction are ineffective to degrade PFOA. Therefore, development of more efficient materials and technologies is urgently needed removal and decomposing of PFOA and other PFAS. To address this critical need, we developed a new class of composite photocatalysts by combining iron oxide particles with carbon spheres (Fe@CS) through a facile hydrothermal treatment method, and tested their adsorption and photocatalytic activities under simulated solar light irradiation using PFOA as a model PFAS. The results showed that more than 99% of PFOA (initial concentration = 10 mg/L, material dosage = 0.5 g/L, pH = 7.0) was adsorbed within 2 h by Fe@CS when the material was prepared at a molar ratio of Fe/C higher than 0.5:1. The adsorption of PFOA was found to increase with increasing Fe content when the Fe/C molar ratio was higher than 0.125. Under solar light irradiation, Fe@CS (Fe/C molar ration = 1/1), approximately 98% of the pre-adsorbed PFOA was degraded after 4 h reaction. Fe@CS exhibited excellent ability to remove and decompose PFOA.<br/>

New composite photocatalyst for efficient adsorption and photodegradation of perfluorooctanoic acid from water under solar light

2019 Spring National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.