Work

Surface functionalization of coconut-shell-derived activated carbon with amine and surfactant groups for selective short-chain PFAS removal

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ) across most, though not all, systems, consistent with energetically heterogeneous, sub-saturation interactions on functionalized carbon surfaces. For pristine CAC, removal efficiency followed the order PFOSA > PFNA > PFHxA > PFBA, reflecting chain-length-dependent hydrophobicity; among the surface-modified sorbents, CTAB-CAC achieved the greatest enhancement for PFOSA and PFHxA, while EDA-CAC achieved the greatest enhancement for PFNA and PFBA, substantially closing this gap for short-chain PFAS. The findings established a rational interfacial engineering of biomass-derived carbons rather than textural optimization alone is a scalable and mechanistically grounded strategy for next-generation PFAS sorbents targeting short-chain contamination in drinking-water systems.

Source: RSC Advances

DOI: 10.1039/d6ra07028k

Authors: Yasaman Mohammadi, Hamidreza Sharifan

Institutions: The University of Texas at El Paso, Florida Atlantic University

Language: English

Topic: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research

Subfield: Environmental Chemistry

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,042