Research progress in environmental occurrence and adsorption of Short-Chain Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water

In order to reduce the environmental hazard of long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) or to avoid regulation, manufacturers have initiated large-scale production and usage of short-chain PFASs as substitutes, resulting in a proliferation of short-chain PFASs in the environment. While short-chain PFASs may be relatively less bioaccumulative and potentially less toxic than traditional long-chain PFASs, they still exhibit extremely strong environmental persistence and enhanced long-range transport. And they may gradually develop into a major component of PFASs in the aqueous environment in the future. Hence, it is urgent to study the removal techniques of short-chain PFASs from water. In this review, the pollution status of short-chain PFASs in water was summarized. Meanwhile, the applications and effects of different adsorbents for the removal of short-chain PFASs in water were classified and the influencing factors of short-chain PFASs in adsorbed water were systematically summarized. This review will provide some inspirits for designing new adsorbent materials for the removal of short-chain PFASs from environmental water matrix.