Best practices for experimental design, testing, and reporting of aqueous PFAS-degrading technologies
By Allyson Leigh Junker, Jan-Max Arana Juve, Lu Bai, Charlotte Skjold Qvist Christensen, Lutz Ahrens, Ian T. Cousins, Mohamed Ateia, and Zongsu Wei
Environ. Sci. Technol.
May 1, 2025
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c08571
Increased awareness of pervasive per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination and the need for zero-pollution treatment solutions necessitate the scientific and engineering community to respond urgently and systematically. Existing approaches lack reproducible and standardized methods to report the technological treatment capabilities. Consequently, it is difficult to compare innovations and accurately assess their potential. In this Perspective, we shed light on hurdles encountered in the lab-scale research and development of aqueous PFAS destruction technologies with a focus on chemical methods and offer recommendations for overcoming them. Best practices are provided for developing robust PFAS laboratory protocols covering crucial aspects such as experimental planning, sample storage and analysis, and waste management. Further, we present five criteria to standardize reporting on performance and advances in PFAS degrading technologies: 1) scope, 2) defluorination efficiency, 3) relative energy consumption, 4) material stability, and 5) unit process considerations. Through the dissemination of these insights, we aim to foster progress in the development of highly effective treatment solutions.
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