Supercritical Water Oxidation for Removing Pfas Contaminants: A Numerical Study

Per – and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of stable pollutants known for their long lifetimes and resistance to treatment methods used traditionally to remove other contaminants. PFAS and their ability to accumulate in both aquatic and terrestrial environments present threats such as detrimental effects to people and ecosystems due to their ability to penetrate entire systems. Though many methods are being explored to treat PFAS contamination in different systems, Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO) is a promising method for both removing and decomposing PFAS, with the ability to completely oxidize these persistent contaminants. This study is a numerical investigation into the effectiveness of SCWO for PFAS decomposition. Kinetic models were used to simulate the thermodynamic behavior and reaction kinetics of PFAS under supercritical conditions. The analysis conducted focused on the conditions that are most efficient for removing PFAS entirely in short times. The findings provide valuable insight into how PFAS can be irradicated from systems to help control the contamination threat they pose. This research will help further the understanding the scientific community has on PFAS and their oxidation behavior and can provide guidance for future applications in removing PFAS from our environment.