Distribution and Adsorption Behavior of Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Sediment‐Water Systems: The Case of the Yellow River in Jinan, Northern China

ABSTRACT The fate and transport characteristics of per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in water have received considerable attention. This paper investigates the partitioning and adsorption mechanisms of PFASs in water and sediment in the Pingyin–Jinan section of the lower Yellow River. The concentration of short‐chain perfluoropentanoate (PFPeA) in the body of water was found to be above the level of long‐chain perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). The logK d values of PFASs were shown to be closely affiliated with the length of the carbon chain, but perfluorobutanoate (PFBA) exhibited abnormally high values in samples collected during the Spring, which might be related to water body pH. In adsorption experiments, using the kinetic model of pseudo‐second order, the dominant mechanism of chemisorption was confirmed. FTIR spectroscopy revealed that hydroxyl groups and iron oxide groups in sediments enhance adsorption through electrostatic interactions. It was determined through the utilization of the intraparticle diffusion model that the adsorption process was comprised of three distinct stages: boundary adhesion, porosity diffusion, and inner surface adsorption. This study offers a theoretical foundation for the prevention and control of PFASs pollution in the Yellow River Basin.