Unraveling the Mechanistic Insights of Electrochemical PFAS Substrate Degradation

Electrochemical per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) degradation is a promising and sustainable approach for the removal of persistent organic pollutants from aqueous environments. The use of molecular catalyst in degrading PFAS electrochemically has been rarely explored. Herein, we used a molecular Cu(I) electrocatalyst bearing triazole based ligands, [CuT2]•ClO4, that could cleave the C−F bonds under mild conditions. This work demonstrated the applicability to different PFAS substrates with variable chain lengths and different backbones by studying their behavior under controlled-current electrolysis. Additionally, we used mass spectrometry to identify the possible electrochemical degradation products. To get some kinetic insights, the [CuT2]+-PFAS interaction was studied using cyclic voltammetry and showed a slow e– transfer event with [CuT2]+ and PFAS binding. Moreover, it was observed that that the rate-limiting step is independent of the -CF2- functionalities present in the PFAS backbones. The electrochemical degradation of PFAS can offer potential for scalability and adaptability in wastewater treatment systems.