How far are we from sustainable treatment of PFAS?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent and toxic environmental contaminants. At the University of Arizona, our team is tackling PFAS challenges through four key efforts: (1) assessing contamination in Arizona, (2) developing real-time PFAS sensors, (3) designing cost-effective sorbent-based treatment technologies, and (4) building QSPR-based modeling tools to guide future design. This talk will focus on sustainable PFAS treatment. While granular activated carbon (GAC) is widely used, its regeneration is energy-intensive and often unsustainable. In the KORES lab, we explore novel sorbents and surface modifications to improve PFAS adsorption and enable efficient regeneration. Using QCM-D, we conduct mechanistic studies to better understand PFAS-sorbent interactions and inform next-generation treatment strategies.