Removal of fluoroalkyl compounds from water using galvanic cell

A method of treating contaminated water, the method comprising:

• contacting the contaminated water comprising a fluoroalkyl compound with a galvanic cell to form galvanic cell-treated water comprising a galvanic cell-treated fluoroalkyl compound, the galvanic cell comprising
• an anode comprising Al, and
• a cathode having a different composition than the anode, wherein the cathode comprises Cu;
• separating the galvanic cell-treated fluoroalkyl compound from the galvanic cell-treated water to form product water having a lower concentration of the fluoroalkyl compound than the contaminated water and to form an aqueous concentrate having a higher concentration of the galvanic cell-treated fluoroalkyl compound than the product water;
• acidifying the aqueous concentrate;
• performing a secondary separation to separate a residual solution from the aqueous concentrate after the acidification and to concentrate the galvanic cell-treated fluoroalkyl compound in the aqueous concentrate;
• purging one or more acidification contaminants from the residual solution;
• and
• adding the residual solution to the contaminated water prior to or during contacting of the contaminated water and the galvanic cell, wherein aluminum ions and/or aluminum hydroxide in the residual solution added to the contaminated water are generated by the aluminum anode of the galvanic cell during a previous cycle of contacting of the contaminated water with the galvanic cell.