Electrochemical strategies for efficient PFAS removal from water: Mechanisms, performance, and sustainability perspectives.

Efficient removal and deep defluorination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) remain pressing challenges in water remediation. In this work, we first outline the molecular structures and properties of PFAS, with emphasis on the initial steps at the molecular level. These include direct electron transfer (DET) and hydroxyl radical-mediated chain cleavage during electrooxidation, as well as hydrodefluorination (HDF) pathways in electroreduction. Subsequently, we illustrate removal efficiencies and energy consumption in relation to electrode materials and target pollutant characteristics, and discuss the influence of operating conditions (e.g., current density, pH, initial pollutant concentration). Meanwhile, we explore the effects of operating conditions such as current density, pH, and initial pollutant concentration to highlight the application potential of electrochemical technologies for PFAS removal. Additionally, we propose a life cycle assessment framework encompassing seven impact categories, including abiotic depletion, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity, global warming potential, and human toxicity potential, to systematically evaluate the environmental compatibility and economic viability of existing electrode materials. This framework bridges fundamental electrochemistry with the engineering scale implementation of PFAS degradation.