Analysis of PFAS in Biogas Processes : A Method Development Study
2025
Johansson Mäcs, Tintin | Nilsson, Irmalinn
Biogas is an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels, produced through a biological process that can utilize sewage sludge and organic materials as substrates. This process also yields valuable byproducts, such as digestate, which can be applied as fertilizer on agricultural fields. However, there is a risk of spreading pollutants to the environment through these materials. Among these pollutants, PFAS has garnered increasing attention due to their persistence in the environment and harmful effects on humans. Despite growing concern, research on PFAS levels in substrates and digestates from biogas processes remains limited, and there is a lack of reliable methods for their detection and quantification. This case study aimed to develop and validate a method for detecting and quantifying PFAS in sewage sludge substrate and digestate from a Swedish biogas production plant. The results confirmed the presence of PFAS, including PFOS, N-EtFOSAA, and 6:2 diPAP, in sludge intended for land application. Notable differences in PFAS profiles between substrates and digestates suggest possible biotransformation during the biogas process. However, this needs to be investigated further. While the developed method with basic methanol extraction and ENVI-Carb purification shows promise, additional refinements are necessary to improve the accuracy of PFAS analysis in biogas-related materials.
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