A critical review of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater biosolids and sludge

ISMAIL, USMAN; Tizaoui, Chedly

doi:10.1016/j.jece.2025.120422

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A critical review of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater biosolids and sludge

USMAN ISMAIL, Chedly Tizaoui

Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, Volume: 13, Issue: 6, Start page: 120422

Swansea University Authors: USMAN ISMAIL, Chedly Tizaoui

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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.jece.2025.120422

Abstract

Biosolids derived from wastewater treatment plants are commonly used as agricultural soil amendments. However, long-chain PFAS species tend to accumulate in these biosolids, raising environmental and human health concerns. USEPA risk assessment reveals that land application of sewage sludge containi...

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Published in:	Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
ISSN:	2213-3437
Published:	Elsevier BV 2025
Online Access:	Check full text
URI:	https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71032

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spelling	2025-12-01T12:59:41.7416542 v2 71032 2025-12-01 A critical review of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater biosolids and sludge 884106c653d915ccf2b9a18be422d37f USMAN ISMAIL USMAN ISMAIL true false 4b34a0286d3c0b0b081518fa6987031d 0000-0003-2159-7881 Chedly Tizaoui Chedly Tizaoui true false 2025-12-01 Biosolids derived from wastewater treatment plants are commonly used as agricultural soil amendments. However, long-chain PFAS species tend to accumulate in these biosolids, raising environmental and human health concerns. USEPA risk assessment reveals that land application of sewage sludge containing 1 ppb PFOA or PFOS presents human health risk that is beyond the agency’s acceptable threshold for non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects. Therefore, this review systematically examines the literature published on the occurrence, quantification, treatment, and management of PFAS in wastewater sludge and biosolids, utilizing science mapping and bibliometric analysis approaches. PFAS have been detected in sludge and biosolids across all inhabited continents, with the exception of South America where no studies have been published. PFOS is the most widely detected compound in biosolids whereas the concentration of 6:2 FTCA reached up to 22000 ng/g (dry weight) in an industrial wastewater sludge. This review also discusses PFAS treatment methods in biosolids and their operating conditions and degradation/removal mechanisms. Pyrolysis and hydrothermal treatments were the most widely studied. This is because they can remove PFAS from the solid residues while producing added-value products such as biochar/hydrochar. Additionally, mitigation approaches to minimize PFAS mobilization in the environment, including desorption from biosolids, enrichment, and stabilization techniques are discussed. Overall, significant advancements in PFAS management in sludge and biosolids were highlighted, along with the identification of challenges, limitations, and areas requiring further research to raise awareness about this topic, and to guide researchers in identifying future directions for enhanced PFAS treatment in wastewater biosolids. Journal Article Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 13 6 120422 Elsevier BV 2213-3437 Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); Biosolids; Hydrothermal treatment; Pyrolysis; PFAS stabilization; Desorption; Wastewater treatment 1 12 2025 2025-12-01 10.1016/j.jece.2025.120422 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal) Usman M. Ismail would like to thank Dŵr Cymru (Welsh Water) and Swansea University for supporting his PhD program. Usman would also like to thank the Faculty of Science and Engineering for offering him the Swansea University International Postgraduate Research Excellence Scholarship (SUIPRES). 2025-12-01T12:59:41.7416542 2025-12-01T12:53:00.4335639 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Chemical Engineering USMAN ISMAIL 1 Chedly Tizaoui 0000-0003-2159-7881 2 71032__35719__193d4a4300ad4e838b20d1d41f35d42c.pdf 71032.VoR.pdf 2025-12-01T12:56:52.6495496 Output 10009847 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CC BY license. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title	A critical review of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater biosolids and sludge
spellingShingle	A critical review of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater biosolids and sludge USMAN ISMAIL Chedly Tizaoui
title_short	A critical review of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater biosolids and sludge
title_full	A critical review of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater biosolids and sludge
title_fullStr	A critical review of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater biosolids and sludge
title_full_unstemmed	A critical review of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater biosolids and sludge
title_sort	A critical review of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater biosolids and sludge
author_id_str_mv	884106c653d915ccf2b9a18be422d37f 4b34a0286d3c0b0b081518fa6987031d
author_id_fullname_str_mv	884106c653d915ccf2b9a18be422d37f_*_USMAN ISMAIL 4b34a0286d3c0b0b081518fa6987031d_*_Chedly Tizaoui
author	USMAN ISMAIL Chedly Tizaoui
author2	USMAN ISMAIL Chedly Tizaoui
format	Journal article
container_title	Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
container_volume	13
container_issue	6
container_start_page	120422
publishDate	2025
institution	Swansea University
issn	2213-3437
doi_str_mv	10.1016/j.jece.2025.120422
publisher	Elsevier BV
college_str	Faculty of Science and Engineering
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description	Biosolids derived from wastewater treatment plants are commonly used as agricultural soil amendments. However, long-chain PFAS species tend to accumulate in these biosolids, raising environmental and human health concerns. USEPA risk assessment reveals that land application of sewage sludge containing 1 ppb PFOA or PFOS presents human health risk that is beyond the agency’s acceptable threshold for non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects. Therefore, this review systematically examines the literature published on the occurrence, quantification, treatment, and management of PFAS in wastewater sludge and biosolids, utilizing science mapping and bibliometric analysis approaches. PFAS have been detected in sludge and biosolids across all inhabited continents, with the exception of South America where no studies have been published. PFOS is the most widely detected compound in biosolids whereas the concentration of 6:2 FTCA reached up to 22000 ng/g (dry weight) in an industrial wastewater sludge. This review also discusses PFAS treatment methods in biosolids and their operating conditions and degradation/removal mechanisms. Pyrolysis and hydrothermal treatments were the most widely studied. This is because they can remove PFAS from the solid residues while producing added-value products such as biochar/hydrochar. Additionally, mitigation approaches to minimize PFAS mobilization in the environment, including desorption from biosolids, enrichment, and stabilization techniques are discussed. Overall, significant advancements in PFAS management in sludge and biosolids were highlighted, along with the identification of challenges, limitations, and areas requiring further research to raise awareness about this topic, and to guide researchers in identifying future directions for enhanced PFAS treatment in wastewater biosolids.
published_date	2025-12-01T05:32:08Z
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score	11.444473

A critical review of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater biosolids and sludge

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