Development of Innovative Membrane and Cold Atmospheric Plasma Reactor for the Degradation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

The high chemical stability of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) made them widely used in industrial and commercial applications, such as surfactants and emulsifiers, causing PFASs to enter many water sources around the world.

The toxic and carcinogenic PFASs that have entered our water cycle are one of the greatest concerns in the 21st century.

Removal of PFAS by conventional methods results in secondary pollution, so it is essential to degrade PFAS using advanced oxidation processes.

According to recent studies, the cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) treatment provides a superior purification in PFAS degradation compared to other advanced oxidation processes. However, the mineralization of short-chain PFASs with current technologies is still not possible.

This challenge will be discussed in this study by combining membrane technology with cold atmospheric plasma technology (Memb-CAP).

The degradation of short-chain PFASs and GenX, which health advisory level has been published recently, will be studied using the innovative Memb-CAP reactor.

Based on her previous projects and studies, ER has experience in the measurement and mineralization studies of emerging compounds (especially PFAS) from water/wastewater samples by advanced oxidation processes, including CAP treatment.

This study will be successful due to ER's expertise in CAP treatment as well as the expertise of the host institution, which is the leading centre for fabricating membranes in Turkey.

By using both the electrical conductivity and PFAS separation capability of the fabricated membrane, it is planned to enhance the mineralization efficiency of the CAP treatment, particularly for short-chain PFAS and GenX, which are difficult to degrade.

This innovative Memb-CAP reactor will provide a great leap forward in water/wastewater purification technology and will significantly progress in the transfer of CAP to a large scale.