Citation: Zhengtong Wang, Yanjun Gong, Wenli Wu, Shuya Liu, Mashooq Khan, Li Yu, Qiongzheng Hu. A rapid visual screening method for evaluating the performance of PFAS adsorbents using liquid crystal[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(11): 112559. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2026.112559 shu

A rapid visual screening method for evaluating the performance of PFAS adsorbents using liquid crystal

Zhengtong Wang ^{a, 1} ,
Yanjun Gong ^{a, 1} ,
Wenli Wu ^b ,
Shuya Liu ^a ,
Mashooq Khan ^{b, *,} ,
Li Yu ^{a, *,} ,
Qiongzheng Hu ^{b, *,}

a.
Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Ji'nan 250100, China
b.
Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Shandong Analysis and Test Center, Ji'nan 250014, China

khan1985@qlu.edu.cn

ylmlt@sdu.edu.cn

huqz@qlu.edu.cn

Received Date: 21 April 2025
Revised Date: 8 December 2025
Accepted Date: 26 February 2026
Available Online: 27 February 2026

Figures(5)

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are organic pollutants that contaminate the environment and pose significant risks to human health. Adsorption is widely practiced for removing PFAS from the aqueous environment. This study presents a rapid and visual method for evaluating the performance of various PFAS adsorbents, including four metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), granular activated carbon (GAC), and zeolite, utilizing an aqueous/liquid crystal (LC) interface. The LC produces a dark image in the presence of PFAS. After PFAS adsorption on the adsorbent, the LC generates a bright image. The effectiveness of various adsorbents is assessed from the dark-to-bright image change of the LC based on adsorption time, adsorbent concentration, and adsorption capacity. Among the tested MOFs, a zirconium-based MOF (NU-1000) displays the shortest adsorption equilibrium time of 1 min, requires a low adsorbent concentration of 200 mg/L, and demonstrates the highest adsorption capacity of 736 mg/g. The results from the LC-based platform are comparable to those from HPLC analysis and are supported by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) data. Thus, LC at the aqueous interface can be employed to efficiently screen adsorbents for PFAS adsorption, emphasizing its considerable potential for practical applications.
- Liquid crystal interface,
- Adsorbent,
- Metal-organic framework,
- Water pollution,
- Visual screening
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