| Abstract Scope |
Titanium carbide MXene is characterized by its unique surface chemistry, represented by the presence of abundant functional groups, including =O, -OH, and -F. Tailoring the surface chemistry of MXene is a promising route to boost PFAS adsorption. However, the relationship between MXene surface chemistry and its ability to adsorb PFAS is obscure and yet to be explored. In this study, we designed two MXenes, including one mainly consisting of -OH and -F groups, denoted as Ti3C2(F)x(OH)y, and the second one terminated by =O, -OH, and -F, denoted as Ti3C2(F)x(OH)y(O)z. Then, the performance of these two MXenes was assessed for the removal of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) from water, investigating variations in pH, PFAS concentrations, and contact time. Ti3C2(F)x(OH)y was able to remove 97% of PFOS after 5 hours of adsorption, while Ti3C2(F)x(OH)y(O)z resulted in the removal of only 65%. Advanced characterizations have been utilized to explain the stark difference in performance, including SEM, AFM, EDS, XPS, and contact angle measurement. |