Fluorous Biphasic PFAS Extraction for Short-Chain Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing PFAS removal and recovery technologies face challenges with inefficiencies in removing ultra-short and short chain PFAS, sensitivity to co-contaminants, and incompatibility with NSF/ANSI certifications, leading to inefficiencies and environmental and economic liabilities.
Innovation Solution
The use of fluorous biphasic and multiphasic systems with polyelectrolytes and supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) for selective PFAS removal, concentration, and recovery, utilizing fluorous-functionalized solid supports and solvents to enhance PFAS transfer and separation, compatible with NSF/ANSI standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If granular activated carbon (GAC) and anion exchange resin (AIX) are used for PFAS removal, then cost and availability are improved, but treatment efficacy for short and ultra-short chain PFAS compounds deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the adsorbent by introducing fluorous functional groups onto the solid support surface. This changes the surface chemistry to specifically recognize and bind with fluorinated compounds, thereby improving efficacy for short and ultra-short chain PFAS while maintaining cost-effectiveness through a modular approach using common solid supports like silica or activated carbon.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system combining a solid support (such as activated carbon or silica) with fluorous functional groups. This composite structure leverages the cost advantages of conventional materials while adding specific fluorine affinity through the functionalized surface, resolving the contradiction between cost and treatment efficacy.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional treatment processes are used, then initial cost is reduced, but sensitivity to co-contaminants such as organics, sulfate, bicarbonate, and chloride deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies fluorous functional groups specifically at the surface level of the solid support, creating a localized region with high fluorine affinity. This local modification allows the material to selectively interact with PFAS compounds while remaining relatively insensitive to common co-contaminants like organics, sulfate, bicarbonate, and chloride, thus resolving the contradiction between cost and contaminant sensitivity.
3Reliability
If fluorous chemistry substitutions are implemented, then PFAS removal efficacy is improved, but compatibility with NSF/ANSI certifications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a solid support matrix as an intermediary carrier that presents fluorous functional groups in a controlled manner. This intermediary structure allows the system to achieve high PFAS removal efficacy through fluorous interactions while maintaining compatibility with NSF/ANSI certifications by using broadly accepted materials like activated carbon or silica as the base matrix.
4Ease of manufacture
If existing PFAS removal technologies are used, then implementation cost is reduced, but productivity and recovery capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the recovery of PFAS compounds from the treated phase through the fluorous biphasic system. The fluorous functional groups on the solid support selectively concentrate PFAS, allowing for their subsequent recovery and potential reuse, thereby improving productivity while maintaining cost-effectiveness through a straightforward extraction and recovery process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances PFAS removal efficiency, reduces sensitivity to co-contaminants, and enables recovery of PFAS for reuse, while meeting NSF/ANSI certification requirements, improving process economics and environmental safety.
Implementation Method 1
a fluorous phase (4) may be introduced and PFAS is transferred from the fluorous media to the fluorous phase (i.e., concentrated in a PFAS-concentrated phase (5))
Implementation Method 2
The use of fluorous biphasic and multiphasic systems with polyelectrolytes and supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) for selective PFAS removal, concentration, and recovery
Implementation Method 3
PFAS is transferred from the fluorous media to the fluorous phase (i.e., concentrated in a PFAS-concentrated phase (5))
Data Source
AI summary
Extraction media for removal, concentration, and recovery of PFAS from contaminated materials in fluorous biphasic and/or multiphasic systems and related methods. The systems may include a fluorous functionalized solid support and a fluorous fractionation reactor permitting PFAS separation for targeted recovery. Extraction mediums comprise a polyelectrolyte with carbon dioxide/supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2/scCO2) with additional possible reagent modifiers that permit miscibility switches and compatibility with NSF/ANSI certifications. The extraction medium may include modifiers to enhance targeted recovery, such as F-solvents and/or organic carrier solvents. The disclosed systems and methods permit advantages such as 1) reduced sensitivity to PFAS-impacted phase co-contaminants such as competing anionic species and/or organic contaminants, 2) simple contact reactor retrofits, 3) enhanced removal of ultra- and/or short chain PFAS, 4) enhanced uniformity of matrix chemistry for downstream waste/wastewater management processes, and 5) the ability to recover valuable PFAS from waste/wastewater for processes that are dependent on their chemistry.