Making waves: balancing removal efficiency and concentrate management in the TFA treatment dilemma

Trifluoroacetate (TFA) is the most abundant PFAS in environmental media, with evolving regulatory frameworks and risk data. Commercially available technologies to separate TFA from drinking water are primarily limited to membrane separation using reverse osmosis (RO) or nanofiltration (NF) membranes, with relatively low concentration factors around 5-10. These and other technologies have inherent tradeoffs, where targeting effective removal of small compounds like TFA produce larger residuals volumes. If drinking water treatment systems to separate TFA from water are considered, regulators and utilities should evaluate residuals management options and whether they are cost-effective or relevant in the context of other TFA emissions. TFA routed through EU drinking water comprises a low fraction of human intake as compared to diet and <0.2% of current emissions of TFA and precursors, so long-term management of TFA exposures should focus on source control and reduction.