Hide and Seek: Exploring PFAS Accumulated in Urban Sludge

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) threats to human health as “forever chemicals” and a key issue addressed by the European Commission. Urban sludge in wastewater treatment plants has become a sink from PFAS, the final “end of the pipe”.

However, the accumulation process of PFAS in urban sludge and the intricate interplay between PFAS and sludge components are still unknown.

Here, the HASPS project aims to comprehensively investigate the binding of PFAS with various structural features to individual EPS components such as proteins, polysaccharides, humic acids, and nucleic acids, a task previously unexplored.

To achieve this, we will comprehensively characterize the EPS present in sludge samples from different countries, such as Denmark and Singapore, and its importance on PFAS adsorption in sludge.

A new extraction method for each EPS component will be established through a combination of physical and chemical treatments.

Further, we will unveil the interaction mechanism between each EPS component and PFAS with diffident chains and functional groups using extracted EPS and model EPS components.

A novel adsorption mechanism approach will be established based on spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, surfactant techniques, and computational models.

This new knowledge of exploring PFAS accumulated in sludge is essential for implementing effective pollution control strategies to minimize the entry of PFAS into the environment.

With this project, I am aiming to combine my background in organic pollutant control with the distinguished expertise of the host research group focusing on PFAS and EPS in sludge at Aarhus University.