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MODELING PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCE PRECURSOR TRANSFORMATION IN GROUNDWATER AT A WELL-CHARACTERIZED SITE
Stockwell, E.B., D.T. Adamson, J.D. Gamlin, P.R. Kulkarni, A. Singh, R.W. Falta, and C.J. Newell. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 276:104766(2026)
Filed Under: Research
Filed Under: Research
A semi-analytical groundwater model that considers matrix diffusion was calibrated to field PFAS data at a site that contained PFAAs and their respective precursor compounds. The modeling effort considered PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFBS. Individual precursor compounds were grouped according to their ability to transform into one of four key PFAAs. Model calibration that varied source characteristics, fate and transport parameters, and precursor transformation indicated that precursor transformation could be a critical process for three of the four PFAAs: 40 years after the initial source release ~59%, 84%, and 87% of the PFOA, PFHxS, and PFBS plume maximum concentrations, respectively, originated from precursor transformation. In addition, precursor transformation led to PFOA, PFHxS, and PFBS plumes that were up to 17% longer than if precursor transformation did not occur. In contrast, PFOS was not substantially affected by precursor transformation due to high PFOS concentrations in the source zone compared to its precursors. Additional modeling of complete PFAS source removal indicated that the effects of matrix diffusion, coupled with no natural degradation of certain PFAAs, may result in PFAS plumes at this site that persist and are sustained by precursor transformation. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169772225002712/pdfft?md5=5c4d7ae57b8e251e75e9386e5528d7f2&pid=1-s2.0-S0169772225002712-main.pdf
Filed Under: Research
Filed Under: Research
A semi-analytical groundwater model that considers matrix diffusion was calibrated to field PFAS data at a site that contained PFAAs and their respective precursor compounds. The modeling effort considered PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFBS. Individual precursor compounds were grouped according to their ability to transform into one of four key PFAAs. Model calibration that varied source characteristics, fate and transport parameters, and precursor transformation indicated that precursor transformation could be a critical process for three of the four PFAAs: 40 years after the initial source release ~59%, 84%, and 87% of the PFOA, PFHxS, and PFBS plume maximum concentrations, respectively, originated from precursor transformation. In addition, precursor transformation led to PFOA, PFHxS, and PFBS plumes that were up to 17% longer than if precursor transformation did not occur. In contrast, PFOS was not substantially affected by precursor transformation due to high PFOS concentrations in the source zone compared to its precursors. Additional modeling of complete PFAS source removal indicated that the effects of matrix diffusion, coupled with no natural degradation of certain PFAAs, may result in PFAS plumes at this site that persist and are sustained by precursor transformation. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169772225002712/pdff
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