Chemodiversity and Molecular Mechanism Between Per-/Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Complexation Behavior of Humic Substances in Landfill Leachate

Landfill leachate contains a range of organic and inorganic pollutants, including per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), which can infiltrate into surrounding soil and groundwater through leaching processes, and can pose a threat to human health via food chains and drinking water processes. Thus, the transport of PFASs in landfill leachate is a research hotspot in environmental science. This study investigates the complexation and adsorption mechanisms between humic substances and PFASs in landfill leachate at the molecular level. Experimental results demonstrate that the binding constant logKsv of humic substances with PFASs correlates positively with specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA254), absorbance ratio (A250/A365), humification index (HIX), and fluorescence index (FI), while it exhibits a negative correlation with the biological index (BIX). These findings indicate that high aromaticity is a prerequisite for molecular interactions between humic substances and PFASs, with polar functional groups further facilitating the interaction. Molecular-level analysis revealed that humic substances undergo complexation and adsorption with PFASs through hydrophobic interactions, van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, ionic bonding, and covalent bonding, by functional groups such as hydroxyl, aliphatic C-H bonds, aromatic C=C double bonds, amides, quinones, and ketones. Future efforts should focus on enhanced co-regulation and mitigation strategies addressing the combined pollution of PFASs and humic substances in landfill leachate.