Removal of PFASs from water with ionic liquids: Quantum-mechanical and experimental studies

This PFASs are man-made chemicals with vast number of useful applications. Wide use of the chemicals during last decades resulted in their common widespread in natural environment, especially in water. Recent studies revealed toxic and bio-accumulative character of PFASs for human and wildlife. Many remediation techniques for removal of PFASs from water were performed, however, due to the high stability of C-F bonds, PFASs exhibit exceptional resistance to most of the conventional removal methods. The most common solution for the removal of PFASs remains, so far, adsorption using activated carbon. However, the major problem of this technique is expensive regeneration of the carbonaceous material. New technological solutions for removal of the emerging contaminants from water environment are in high demand. The paper presents recent developments in separation of persistent organic pollutants with a usage of ionic liquids and introduces theoretical approach for identification and design of ionic liquids useful for efficient separation of PFASs from water environment.