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Residual organic fluorinated compounds from thermal treatment of PFOA, PFHxA and PFOS adsorbed onto granular activated carbon (GAC)

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  • Recent researches on Thermal Treatment and Emission Control (9th i-CIPEC)
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Abstract

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) adsorbed onto granular activated carbon (GAC) were thermally treated in N2 gas stream. The purpose was to assess the fate of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) during thermal regeneration of GAC, which had been used for water treatment. Mineralized F, residual PFASs including short-chained species, and volatile organic fluorine (VOF) were determined. In a temperature condition of 700 °C, VOF were 13.2, 4.8, and 5.9 % as for PFOA, PFHxA, and PFOS. However, the VOF decreased to 0.1 %, if the GAC and off-gas were kept at 1000 °C. No PFASs remained in GAC at 700–1000 °C; at the same time, short-chained PFASs were slightly detected in the aqueous trapping of off-gas at 800 and 900 °C conditions. The destruction of PFASs on GAC could be perfect if the temperature is higher than 700 °C; however, the process is competitive against volatile escape from GAC. Destruction in gaseous phase needs a temperature as high as 1000 °C. Destruction of PFASs on the surface of GAC, volatile escape from the site, and thermolysis in gas phase should be considered, as to thermal regeneration of GAC.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by Osaka Bay Regional Offshore Environmental Improvement Center (Osaka-wan Phoenix Center).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Osaka Institute of Technology, Ohmiya 5-16-1, Asahi-ku, Osaka, 535-8585, Japan

    Nobuhisa Watanabe

  2. Center for Environmental Science in Saitama, Kamitanadare 914, Kazo, Saitama, 347-0115, Japan

    Shusuke Takemine

  3. Hyogo Prefectural Institute of Environmental Sciences, Yukihira-cho 3-1-18, Suma-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 654-0037, Japan

    Katsuya Yamamoto & Yuki Haga

  4. Towa Technology Co., Hirose-kitamachi 3-11, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, 730-0803, Japan

    Mitsuyasu Takata

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  1. Nobuhisa Watanabe
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  2. Shusuke Takemine
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  5. Mitsuyasu Takata
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Correspondence to Nobuhisa Watanabe.

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Watanabe, N., Takemine, S., Yamamoto, K. et al. Residual organic fluorinated compounds from thermal treatment of PFOA, PFHxA and PFOS adsorbed onto granular activated carbon (GAC). J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 18, 625–630 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-016-0532-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-016-0532-x

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