GenX is not always a better fluorinated organic compound than PFOA: A critical review on aqueous phase treatability by adsorption and its associated cost
- Authors
- Heidari, Hamed; Abbas, Tauqeer; Ok, Yong Sik; Tsang, Daniel C. W.; Bhatnagar, Amit; Khan, Eakalak
- Issue Date
- 15-Oct-2021
- Publisher
- PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
- Keywords
- Activated carbon; Drinking water; Emerging contaminants; Remediation technologies; Water treatment
- Citation
- WATER RESEARCH, v.205
- Indexed
- SCIE
SCOPUS
- Journal Title
- WATER RESEARCH
- Volume
- 205
- URI
- https://scholar.korea.ac.kr/handle/2021.sw.korea/137657
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117683
- ISSN
- 0043-1354
- Abstract
- Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX) has been marketed as a substitute for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to reduce environmental and health risks. GenX and PFOA have been detected in various natural water sources, and adsorption is recognized as a typical treatment process for PFOA removal. In this paper, comparisons of GenX and PFOA adsorption are evaluated, including adsorption potential, adsorption mechanisms, and associated costs. A detailed literature review suggests that anion-exchange resins are more effective in removing GenX than activated carbon. GenX removal efficiency through activated carbon (30%) is lower than that of PFOA (80-95%), while GenX and PFOA removal efficiencies by anion exchange resins are similar (99%). Unconventional adsorbents, such as ionic fluorogels and covalent organic frameworks can effectively remove GenX from water. The review reveals that GenX adsorption is more challenging, requiring almost 4 times the treatment cost of its predecessor, PFOA. Annual operation and maintenance costs for GenX adsorption (initial concentration of GenX and PFOA = 0.2 mu g.L-1) by GAC for treating 10,000 m(3) per day is almost US$1,000,000 per year, but only around US$240,000 per year for PFOA. Desorption of GenX in the presence of PFOA highlights GenX's inferior treatability by adsorption. It is believed that GenX is a more environmentally friendly compound than PFOA, but this environmental friendliness comes with the price.
- Files in This Item
- There are no files associated with this item.
- Appears in
Collections - College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology > Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering > 1. Journal Articles
![qrcode](https://api.qrserver.com/v1/create-qr-code/?size=55x55&data=https://scholar.korea.ac.kr/handle/2021.sw.korea/137657)
Items in ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.