Remediation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Contamination in Peri-Urban Groundwater Aquifers Using Electrocoagulation-Coupled Nanofiltration: A Field-Scale Feasibility Assessment

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a persistent anthropogenic contaminant class with documented endocrine-disrupting and carcinogenic properties, posing critical risks to peri-urban groundwater systems globally. This study evaluates the technical feasibility of a coupled electrocoagulation–nanofiltration (EC-NF) treatment train for PFAS removal from shallow alluvial aquifers affected by legacy firefighting foam discharge. Bench-scale and pilot-scale trials were conducted across four contaminated field sites in southeastern Australia, targeting perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and short-chain PFAS analogues. EC-NF achieved removal efficiencies exceeding 97.3% for long-chain PFAS and 88.6% for short-chain variants at hydraulic retention times of 45 minutes. Energy consumption modelling and life-cycle cost analysis confirmed scalable economic viability. These findings establish EC-NF as a deployable, high-efficiency remediation strategy for PFAS-impacted municipal groundwater infrastructure.