Recently, Deng Bing’s team at Tsinghua University’s School of Environment (SOE) has made new advances in the degradation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Deng Bing and his collaborators have developed a rapid, versatile electrothermal mineralization method for PFAS degradation in soil, based on flash Joule heating (FJH).
PFAS are persistent and bioaccumulative pollutants that can accumulate in soil, posing threats to both the environment and human health. Current PFAS soil remediation technologies, such as adsorption, extraction, and chemical oxidation, often face limitations like low efficiency, high water consumption, or lack of versatility. Building on previous research in electrothermal process for soil remediation, Deng Bing’s team, in collaboration with partners, has developed a rapid electrothermal mineralization (REM) process for remediating PFAS-contaminated soil. REM utilizes environmentally compatible biochar as a conductive additive. By applying direct current pulses, the soil temperature is rapidly increased. The inherent components in the soil, such as calcium, facilitate the mineralization of PFAS into mineralized fluoride forms like calcium fluoride, effectively eliminating the contamination. REM technology is highly versatile, suitable for remediating various PFAS contaminants in soil, and boasts a high removal efficiency of PFAS (>99.9%). Compared to traditional long-duration thermal treatment methods, ETM offers rapid processing while preserving the physicochemical properties of soils, including composition, water infiltration rate, and exchangeable nutrients. Life-cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis indicate that REM features low energy consumption, low carbon emissions, and minimal water usage, making it a promising alternative for soil PFAS remediation.
Rapid Electrothermal Mineralization Process for Remediating PFAS-Contaminated Soil
On July 20, these research findings were published in Nature Communications under the title “Electrothermal Mineralization of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances for Soil Remediation”.
Deng Bing, an Assistant Professor at Tsinghua University, Yufeng Zhao, a Professor at Colburn University, and James Tour, a Professor at Rice University, are the corresponding authors of the paper. Postdoctoral researcher Cheng Yi from Rice University and Deng Bing are the co-first authors. Other key collaborators include Assistant Professor Mark Torres at the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Professor Michael S. Wong at the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Professor Boris I. Yakobson at the Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, and Assistant Professor Matthew A. McCary at the Department of Biosciences at Rice University.
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