Remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyls (PFAS) via electrochemical methods

• Elaboration of advancements in electrochemical method for the treatment of PFAS. • Complete mineralization of PFAS is possible via electrochemical treatment. • The latest trends in the electrode material were comprehensively reviewed. • Ceramic microporous Magneli phase Ti 4 O 7 anodes exhibit least energy-requirement. • Combining other techniques with electro-oxidation boosts overall system efficiency. The ubiquitous presence of poly- and perfluoroalkyls (PFAS) is a severe concern in view of their bioaccumulation and persistence in the environment because of strong C − F bonds (485 kJ/mol) that are recalcitrant towards thermal, chemical, and biological decomposition. The predominance of PFAS having toxicological effects can be quite hazardous to environment, wildlife, and human beings, especially the children. Efforts are continuously pursued to investigate complete mineralization of PFAS to detect and destroy these chemicals from the environment. Of all the many methods used, electrochemical approach is promising. This review explores the latest advances and limitations of the electrochemical treatment methods of PFAS. Recent findings emphasize the use of boron-doped diamond (BDD) anodes and titanium sub-oxide ceramic anodes, specifically Magnéli phase Ti 4 O 7 electrode as these can achieve almost ∼ 99% of PFAS removal with the least energy requirement compared to other existing anodes. The influence of design parameters and electrode materials are considered and the mechanisms of electro-oxidation of PFAS onto anodic surface degradation, besides the various side-products formed after the process are analyzed. The viability of macroscale application of electrochemical treatment faces some obstructions because of the concentration effects and mass transfer limitations. Reactive electrochemical membrane operation could facilitate inter-phase mass transfer through the filtration of contaminated samples over the porous materials that can act as a membrane plus anode all at once. Adopting different techniques such as nanofiltration, ion exchange resin, and reverse osmosis with electro-oxidation may boost the system effectiveness to reduce the overall expenses as well as alleviate the concentration of unfavorable and harmful side products after the degradation of PFAS. Nonetheless, an assessment of different electrode materials, consideration of realistic conditions, and implementation of feasible and workable approaches are essential for the scalability of laboratory research to large-scale applications.