Removal of perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFAS) from aqueous solution using permanently confined micelle arrays (PCMAs)

• A new sorbent with permanently confined micelle arrays was successfully synthesized and applied for PFC removal.
• The pH and salt concentrations showed limited effect on the sorption process.
• The PFAS removal performance by the PCMAs was stable even after 5 cycle regenerations.

One new sorbent with permanently confined micelle arrays (PCMAs) has been synthesized to remove PFAS compounds from aquatic solutions. The TEM and SEM studies showed that large particle sizes with lots of macro-pores and highly order hexagonal structure of cylindrical micelle had been formed in the sorbent. The FTIR spectrums demonstrated the formation of Si–O–Si covalent bond in the new material. The kinetic study showed that the sorption of PFOS, PFHxS, and PFBuS by PCMAs reached equilibrium within 5 min. The pH and salts in solution are found to have limited effects on sorption of PFOS on the new sorbent, and regeneration experiments revealed that PFAS removal efficiencies by the PCMAs did not decrease after 5 cycle regenerations. The high capabilities of PCMAs make it a potentially attractive sorbent for the removal of PFCs from aqueous solution.