Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a broad class of chemicals critical to industrial processes and consumer products due to their unique chemical and physical properties. However, their recalcitrance and detrimental effects to organisms pose a serious threat to human health and the environment necessitating their removal and destruction. In this study, we reveal a novel PFAS degradation mechanism within the aqueous UV/sulfite photochemical system. Under mild reaction conditions (pH&lt;10, 20 °C), the mechanism enabled rapid (&lt;1 h) and deep defluorination (&gt;80%). The minor transformation products with residual C–F bonds are susceptible to further defluorination (&gt;95% in total) by oxidation. The findings will contribute to the comprehensive elucidation of C–F bond cleavage mechanisms, filling major knowledge gaps in both environmental science and fluorine chemistry.

Novel degradation mechanism for rapid photochemical PFAS defluorination

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