Streamlining the Removal of Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) From Environment: A Comprehensive Approach

ABSTRACT Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) represent a class of hazardous compounds associated with negative health implications in the human population. Their widespread utilization is attributed to their exceptional resistance to stains and high thermal durability, characteristics that also render them resistant to environmental degradation, thus resulting in their persistent presence in ecosystems. The complexity arises when these substances infiltrate potable water sources, as their elimination poses a significant unresolved issue within the scientific realm. Consequently, there is a pressing need for adsorbent materials exhibiting heightened selectivity and specificity toward PFAS to decontaminate water reservoirs and safeguard the ecological balance. The eradication of PFAS from our water supply is not an issue to be considered in the distant future; rather, it is a pressing current concern that is escalating. It is of such significance that the primary question shifts from “what?” to “when?” Therefore, the primary aim of this review is to enrich understanding concerning diverse adsorbents and the potential mechanisms involved in PFAS adsorption by encompassing all known adsorbent materials. Moreover, it involves an assessment of the advantages and disadvantages, challenges, and possibilities associated with these adsorbents. Through this review, we aim to establish research initiatives, and we envision uncovering a realm of unexplored revelations and practical applications. This review will be instrumental in advancing our endeavors to develop sustainable adsorbents for eradicating PFAS and to enhance awareness, advocacy, and education among scientists regarding the scientific predicaments, such as the contamination of our water sources by PFAS, that our society is currently confronting.