Per- i polifluoroalkil supstance (PFAS) - izvori zagađenja, izazovi remedijacije i potencijalni abiotički tretmani zagađenih voda

Per- i polifluoroalkil supstance (PFAS - per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) su grupa jedinjenja koja su široko korišćena zbog svojih hidrofobnih i lipofilnih svojstava, što ih čini otpornim na vodu, ulje i toplotu. Ove supstance su korišćene u proizvodnji različitih proizvoda kao što su teflonski premazi, vodootporni tekstilni materijali i sredstva za gašenje požara i mnogi drugi. Međutim, zbog njihove perzistentnosti i sposobnosti da se akumuliraju u životinjama i životnom okruženju, PFAS su postali predmet zabrinutosti za životnu sredinu i zdravlje ljudi. PFAS u otpadne vode mogu dospeti direktnom emisijom kao posledica proizvodnih i industrijskih procesa ili naknadno, upotrebom proizvoda koje sadrže ove štetne hemikalije, kao i neobazrivim odlaganjem istih. Nakon dospevanja u otpadne vode, PFAS se mogu širiti i kontaminirati vodne sisteme, što može ugroziti zdravlje ljudi i životinja koje konzumiraju tu vodu. Usled rastuće zabrinutosti od potencijalnih štetnih efekata PFAS, mnoge zemlje su počele da uvode strože regulative i mere kontrole kako bi smanjile izloženost ovim supstancama i ograničile njihovo širenje u životnoj sredini. Uz osvrt na probleme sa kojima se suočavamo prilikom otkrivanja ove grupe jedinjenja u otpadnim vodama, kao i pri samoj remedijaciji, u radu su prikazane i metode uklanjanja PFAS iz otpadnih voda.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals that are widely used due to their hydrophobic and lipophilic properties, which make them resistant to water, oil and heat. These substances have been used in the production of various products such as Teflon coatings, waterproof textile materials, fire extinguishing agents, and many others. However, due to their persistence and ability to accumulate in animals and the environment, PFAS have become a concern for the environment and human health. PFAS get into waste water through direct emission as a consequence of production and industrial processes or subsequently, through the use of products containing these harmful chemicals, as well as their careless disposal. After reaching wastewater, PFAS can spread and contaminate water systems, which can endanger the health of humans and animals that consume that water. Due to growing concern about the potential harmful effects of PFAS, many countries have begun to introduce strict regulation and control measures to reduce exposure to these substances and limit their spread in the environment. With reference to the problems we face when detecting this group of compounds in wastewater, as well as during the remediation itself, PFAS removal methods from waste water are described.