Leveraging Heterogeneous Catalyst Design Principles for Volatile PFAS Destruction through the Thermal Decomposition of CF ₄

The mineralization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances could be enhanced with the use of catalysts to circumvent the large energy inputs needed to reach the high temperatures theoretically required for destruction of CF₄, the most thermally stable product of incomplete destruction of PFAS. In this review, we aim first to outline the state-of-the-art catalysts designed for CF₄ breakdown over the past several years. Then, we seek to apply the principles of heterogeneous catalyst design to identify underexplored avenues for improving destruction efficiency. Our key takeaways are (1) catalyst surface structure is key, with Lewis acidity, crystal structure, and the presence of functional groups directly affecting performance; (2) lower temperature requirements can expand the parameter space for catalyst development, with materials beyond alumina currently underexplored; and (3) further testing under industrial conditions should be performed on those catalysts that have been shown to be most promising in controlled laboratory settings. Together, the ideas presented can inform future catalyst design, with an overall goal of efficient and cost-effective PFAS mineralization at industrially accessible temperatures.