Surface-tailored photocatalytic nanomaterials and polymer composites for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) removal: Recent advances and insights

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are released from various sources, including plastics, cosmetics, household, and industrial products. It gradually contaminates the surface and groundwater, as well as the soil, leading to adverse effects on living organisms and the environment. Researchers worldwide are investigating and practicing various treatment approaches, including ion exchange, adsorption, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), and membrane filtration, to remove and degrade PFAS from water and wastewater. Among these, the integration of adsorption and AOP is the most commonly used technique for PFAS removal and degradation. This review briefly discusses the significant outcomes and challenges in adsorption and AOP-based research to date. The impact of PFAS removal and defluorination using photocatalytic metal oxides and metal-organic framework (MOF) coupled nanoparticles under UV and visible light is reviewed in detail. In addition, the importance of photocatalyst surface modification, coupled with a polymer composite, for enhancing PFAS removal and defluorination is also discussed.