Development of ceramic filter tube for passive sampling of PFAS in waters

To enhance the detection of the escalating presence of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aquatic environments, the development of innovative sampling techniques becomes imperative. This study focuses on testing a novel passive sampler for in situ sampling of PFAS, employing a ceramic filter tube (CFT) coupled with a hydrogel containing adsorbent-imbedded weak anion exchange resin (WAX) in rod format. The WAX gel rod demonstrated swift binding of the targeted PFAS and potential reusability at least five times. The integrated passive sampler, CFT-WAX, exhibited a linear accumulation pattern for five PFAS in the lab, resulting in a lower diffusive coefficient through the CFT wall than other samplers due to the thicker wall. Notably, variations in pH, ionic strength, and dissolved organic matter did not significantly influence the performance of CFT-WAX. Field deployment in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) demonstrated its reasonable performance compared to traditional grab sampling. Though further optimisation in the future is warranted, the findings of this study underscore the efficacy of the developed CFT-WAX passive sampler as a promising tool for in-situ sampling PFAS in aquatic environments.