Removal of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from Aqueous Matrices by using Adsorption ProcessesRemoval of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from Aqueous Matrices by using Adsorption Processes Μεταπτυχιακή Διατριβή Master Thesis 2025-07-112025enPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants that have been detected in various aqueous environments. Due to their chemical stability and health risks, effective removal technologies are urgently needed. Among emerging sorbents, β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) polymers have attracted interest for their tunable selectivity and environmental compatibility. This thesis investigates the adsorption behavior of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) onto β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)-based polymers, with a focus on how surface functionalization and polymer architecture influence removal efficiency. Five case studies and one meta-analysis were analyzed to explore key performance trends across different material chemistries, PFAS types, and water matrices. The results indicate that unmodified β-CD polymers show limited effectiveness, particularly for short-chain PFAS, while functionalized variants—especially those incorporating cationic groups—demonstrate high selectivity and fast kinetics even under complex environmental conditions. The study highlights the importance of electrostatic interactions, host–guest inclusion, and steric factors in driving adsorption performance. Finally, key challenges related to material scalability, integration into treatment systems, and regulatory pathways are discussed, outlining promising directions for future research and application.Postgraduate thesis submitted to the faculty of Chemical and Environmental Engineering of the Technical University of Cretehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Πολυτεχνείο Κρήτης::Σχολή Χημικών Μηχανικών και Μηχανικών ΠεριβάλλοντοςSartzetaki_Christina_MSc_2025.pdfChania [Greece]Library of TUC2025-07-11application/pdf3.3 MBfree Sartzetaki Christina Σαρτζετακη Χριστινα Σαρτζετακη Xekoukoulotakis Nikos Ξεκουκουλωτακης Νικος Gournis Dimitrios Γουρνης Δημητριος Diangelakis Nikolaos Διαγγελακης Νικολαος Πολυτεχνείο Κρήτης Technical University of Crete Adsorption technology