Volume 11, Issue 2 (June 2026)
J Environ Health Sustain Dev 2026, 11(2): 3032-3050 |
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Behnami A, Pourakbar M, Zoroufchi Benis K, Farzadkia M, Rezaei Kalantari R, Yeganeh M, et al . Pre Treatment of PFOA Laden Synthetic Wastewater Via UV/Peroxydisulfate, UV/Peroxymonosulfate, and UV/Sulfite Processes: A Comparative Evaluation. J Environ Health Sustain Dev 2026; 11 (2) :3032-3050
URL: http://jehsd.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-1189-en.html
URL: http://jehsd.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-1189-en.html
Ali Behnami 
, Mojtaba Pourakbar , Khaled Zoroufchi Benis , Mahdi Farzadkia , Roshanak Rezaei Kalantari , Mojtaba Yeganeh , Ali Esrafili , Mitra Gholami *
, Mojtaba Pourakbar , Khaled Zoroufchi Benis , Mahdi Farzadkia , Roshanak Rezaei Kalantari , Mojtaba Yeganeh , Ali Esrafili , Mitra Gholami *
Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran & Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (25 Views)
Introduction: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a persistent and toxic contaminant that requires effective degradation and defluorination strategies. Although several UV-based advanced oxidation and reduction processes have been investigated, direct comparisons under identical conditions are limited. In this study, we compared the degradation efficiency, mechanisms, and defluorination potential of three UV-based systems: UV/persulfate (UV/PDS), UV/peroxymonosulfate (UV/PMS), and UV/sulfite (UV/SS).
Materials and Methods: PFOA degradation experiments were conducted under 254 nm UV irradiation with an initial PFOA concentration of 0.24 mM and oxidant/reductant dosages of 1.0 mM. Reaction kinetics, transformation products, and fluoride generation were analyzed using LC‑MS/MS and ion chromatography over a 6‑hour treatment period.
Results: Direct UV photolysis was ineffective, achieving only 4% removal. Among the tested systems, UV/SS exhibited the highest performance, achieving 47% PFOA removal, compared with 24% and 31% for UV/PDS and UV/PMS, respectively. UV/PDS and UV/PMS primarily proceeded through oxidative radical pathways (sulfate and hydroxyl radicals), resulting in chain shortening and accumulation of shorter-chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFHpA, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFBA, and TFA). In contrast, UV/SS operated through reductive pathways mediated by hydrated electrons, promoting sequential C–F bond cleavage and enhanced defluorination.
Conclusion: The UV/SS process demonstrated the greatest potential for PFOA pretreatment due to its ability to achieve true defluorination, whereas oxidative systems mainly transformed PFOA into persistent short-chain intermediates.
Materials and Methods: PFOA degradation experiments were conducted under 254 nm UV irradiation with an initial PFOA concentration of 0.24 mM and oxidant/reductant dosages of 1.0 mM. Reaction kinetics, transformation products, and fluoride generation were analyzed using LC‑MS/MS and ion chromatography over a 6‑hour treatment period.
Results: Direct UV photolysis was ineffective, achieving only 4% removal. Among the tested systems, UV/SS exhibited the highest performance, achieving 47% PFOA removal, compared with 24% and 31% for UV/PDS and UV/PMS, respectively. UV/PDS and UV/PMS primarily proceeded through oxidative radical pathways (sulfate and hydroxyl radicals), resulting in chain shortening and accumulation of shorter-chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFHpA, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFBA, and TFA). In contrast, UV/SS operated through reductive pathways mediated by hydrated electrons, promoting sequential C–F bond cleavage and enhanced defluorination.
Conclusion: The UV/SS process demonstrated the greatest potential for PFOA pretreatment due to its ability to achieve true defluorination, whereas oxidative systems mainly transformed PFOA into persistent short-chain intermediates.
Keywords: PFOA, Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), Ultraviolet/Sulfite, Defluorination, Water remediation, Perfluorinated compounds.
Type of Study: Original articles |
Subject:
Water quality and wastewater treatment and reuse
Received: 2026/02/17 | Accepted: 2026/05/20 | Published: 2026/06/20
Received: 2026/02/17 | Accepted: 2026/05/20 | Published: 2026/06/20
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