Combining novel Analytical protocols for PFAS contamination with Technologies for sustainable Remediation

Introduction

The overarching objective of LIFE CAPTURE is to develop sustainable management methods for dealing with Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soil and groundwater. This targets concrete issues and challenges that are currently encountered when dealing with PFAS contamination. These relate to characterisation, assessment, and mitigation of the contamination.

Development of Analytical Protocol

We propose to develop a robust protocol for the analysis of PFAS, which is currently lacking. The intention is to enlarge the spectrum of the PFAS family that can be analysed. LIFE CAPTURE proposes a robust protocol that follows a staggered approach to:

1. Quantify whether any kind of PFAS is present.
2. Quantify the concentrations of a set group of well-researched PFAS.
3. Determine if there are significant concentrations of other PFAS present.
4. Quantify and qualify those other PFAS.

Site Investigation Practices

During site investigation, it is currently considered best practice to only look at concentrations. The use of flux measurements would be a valuable addition, allowing more direct measurement of exposure and risks. It can also be used to drastically enhance the efficiency of mitigation measures such as remediation. Within this project, passive flux samplers that can be integrated into the new analytical protocol will be demonstrated.

Innovative Remediation Technologies

Due to PFAS’s chemical properties, most existing remediation technologies don’t provide adequate sustainable treatment solutions. We propose a toolkit of promising innovative remediation technologies for PFAS. Technology trains will be identified and tested to optimize the remediation approaches in order to eliminate the contaminants from the environment.

Risk and Effect Assessment

The assessment of whether a certain PFAS contamination is harmful is typically governed by a regulatory framework. We propose to develop a pragmatic risk and effect assessment approach. This will be based on existing standardized ecotoxicity tests. Special attention will be given to risk assessment for mixtures of different known or unknown PFAS.