Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have garnered significant attention from both the public and private sectors due to their detrimental effects on society's health. The scientific community is diligently working on both adapting existing technologies for the eradication of organic contaminants in PFAS remediation, and pioneering new technologies for PFAS mitigation. A common aspect in both areas revolves around the separation and removal of PFAS from other substances, followed by their ultimate destruction. While widely embraced separation technologies successfully mitigate human exposure to PFAS, these compounds persist in the environment, posing ongoing health risks. In contrast, the destructive technologies have the potential to efficiently disintegrate PFAS compounds, thus comprehensively addressing society's pressing need to remediate this hazardous family of chemical substances.

While there are various methods of removing PFAS from water, the EPA recommends three particular methods for individuals:

The most proven technology is Granular Activated Carbon (GAC). Filters with GAC reduce liability while removing PFAS and other organic contaminants. GAC requires minimal maintenance. When using GAC, it’s important to note that background organics can impact the technology’s performance.

Membranes, such as reverse osmosis, are highly effective in removing PFAS as well as other dissolved solids. However, membranes are expensive and create a concentrated waste stream which needs to be managed, meaning it’s a higher-maintenance technology.

Anion Exchange Resins are a developing technology for PFAS removal. Although there is limited data for this technology, scientists expect it to yield a high throughput. Anion Exchange Resins require minimal maintenance and don’t contain chemicals or liquid waste, however they are non-regenerable meaning they must be landfilled.

The EPA Drinking Water Treatability Database presents current information on the control of contaminants in drinking water, including more than 30 treatment processes and over 120 regulated and unregulated contaminants, including 26 PFAS chemicals.