Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a pressing environmental and public health concern due to their persistence and toxicity, especially affecting aquatic environments. Short-chain PFAS, with their high solubility and mobility in aquatic medium, have become more concentrated in water bodies. However, removing these short-chain PFAS from water is challenging and requires effective, sustainable solutions. This study evaluates MIP-202, an eco-friendly, cost-effective adsorbent, for removing PFBS, PFPeS, PFBA, and PFPeA from water. MIP-202 demonstrates exceptional performance in removing these PFAS at trace concentrations, with values of 620.5 mg/g, 603.2 mg/g, 573.9 mg/g, and 525.7 mg/g for PFBS, PFPeS, PFBA, and PFPeA, respectively. The adsorption of PFAS molecules onto MIP-202 was found to be described by Langmuir isotherm model. Also, pseudo-second-order model better described the kinetic information. Solution pH significantly influences MIP-202's efficiency, with an optimal pH of 3 for all PFAS. The removal mechanism involves electrostatic interactions between PFAS and protonated amine groups in MIP-202, along with the participation of Zr clusters in the adsorption. Remarkably, MIP-202 retains its adsorption capacity even after undergoing eight regeneration cycles. In conclusion, MIP-202 shows promise as an effective and sustainable solution for eliminating short-chain PFAS from water environments. Its exceptional performance at trace concentrations, high adsorption capacity, rapid recovery, and reusability make it an appealing choice for addressing the challenges posed by short-chain PFAS in practical applications.
