Enhancing Electrochemical Reductive Defluorination of PFASs Using ZIF-67 Modified Cathode: Mechanistic Insights and Performance Optimization

The effectiveness of electrochemical reductive defluorination is impeded by the low environmental concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and the robust nature of C - F bonds. In this work, we investigate the zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) as a promising catalyst for PFASs remediation. We show that ZIF-67 hold promise for simultaneous adsorption and reductive defluorination of 2-(trifluoromethyl) acrylic acid (TFMAA). Following a 48-hour treatment, the ZIF-67 modification significantly improves the adsorption of TFMAA onto the cathode surface, achieving removal and defluorination efficiencies of 99.66 % and 97.16 %, respectively (C