Use of electrochemical oxidation for treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (pfas) in waste generated from sorbent and resin regeneration processes

A process for destroying perfluoroalkyl and/or polyfluoroalkyl substances in a liquid stream, the process comprising:

• providing a water treatment system including an electro-oxidative (EO) reactor comprising an electrolytic cell with an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, wherein at least one of the anode electrode and the cathode electrode comprises titanium suboxide;
• flowing the liquid stream including perfluoroalkyl and/or polyfluoroalkyl substances through the EO reactor;
• and
• contacting the liquid stream including perfluoroalkyl and/or polyfluoroalkyl substances with the anode electrode and the cathode electrode while a current flows between said electrodes, thereby destroying at least some of the perfluoroalkyl and/or polyfluoroalkyl substances by electro-oxidation;
• and
• recirculating liquid treated by the EO reactor within the water treatment system.

A water treatment system for destroying at least one of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a liquid stream by electro-oxidation, the water treatment system comprising:

• a reactor comprising an electrolytic cell with an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, wherein the anode electrode and the cathode electrode are configured to contact the liquid stream including at least one of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances while a current flows between the electrodes, thereby destroying the at least one of the perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the liquid stream by electro-oxidation;
• and
• a fluid circuit in fluid communication with the reactor, the fluid circuit recirculating the liquid treated by the reactor within the water treatment system during operation.
• wherein the liquid treated by the reactor is recirculated within the water treatment system.