Mineralization of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A comprehensive review of destruction technologies
By Xiang Wen, Wei Zhuang, Xuedong Zhai, Wang Xin, and Minghao Sui
Sep. Purif. Technol.
June 29, 2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.139037
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose significant threats to ecosystems and human health due to their extreme stability and persistent accumulation. Complete structural mineralization is required to address the limitations of conventional physical techniques (which merely relocate contaminants) and traditional degradation techniques (which merely exhibit limited efficacy and tend to generate harmful intermediates). This review systematically outlines the latest technological advances toward mineralization, including sonochemical, photochemical, electrochemical, thermal, oxidant-driven, and mechanochemical approaches. It further summarizes the underlying mechanisms, mineralization efficiencies, and the influence of PFAS structures and matrix effects on mineralization outcomes. Finally, prospective research directions are proposed, including the development of evaluation systems for mineralization technologies, technology selection tailored to different contamination scenarios, and the application of non-targeted analysis. Unresolved challenges are also identified from both laboratory research and engineering application perspectives.
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