Catch and Destroy Forever Chemicals

 


PFAS substances are known as forever chemicals in a single integrated system. Researchers at the University of British Columbia have created new treatments that will assist in this global problem. The development traps and treats PFAS substances. 

This intriguing exploration is published in Nature Communications Engineering. 

PFAS are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are used in the manufacturing of consumer goods. This is due to their resistance to stains, heat and even water.  However, they are considered pollutants. They have been linked to cancer and other serious health issues. They often end up on ground and surface water.

Dr. Johan Foster is an associate professor of chemical and biological engineering in the faculty of applied science. He is also lead researcher in the study.

He reports, “PFAS are notoriously difficult to break down, whether they’re in the environment or in the human body. Our system will make it possible to remove and destroy these substances in the water supply before they can harm our health.”

The team used an activated carbon filter and a special patented catalyst that traps harmful chemicals. It is broken down into harmless components on the filter material. This trapping of chemical components is referred to as adsorption.

Dr Foster states, “The whole process is fairly quick, depending on how much water you’re treating. We can put huge volumes of water through this catalyst and it will adsorb the PFAS and destroy it in a quick two-step process. Many existing solutions can only adsorb while others are designed to destroy the chemicals. Our catalyst system can do both, making it a long-term solution to the PFAS problem instead of just kicking the can down the road.”

The new system requires UV light, just as the previous attempts. However, it was discovered that not as much UV light is needed as other simulations. 

While testing the device routinely removed 85% of PFOA (perfluoroctanoic acid). This even worked under low light conditions! 

Dr Raphaell Moreiva is a professor at Universitat Bremen. He conducted research on this project. He states, “Our catalyst is not limited by ideal conditions. It’s effectiveness under varying UV light intensities ensures its applicability in diverse settings, including regions with limited sunlight exposure.” 

(An example is northern researchers who get little sun would still benefit from this type of treatment.)

Dr. Moreira reports, “While the initial experiments focused on PFAS compounds, the catalyst’s versatility suggests it’s potential for removing other types of persistent contaminants, offering a promising solution to the processing issues of water pollution.”

This could be a low cost solution for municipal water systems. They have set up a company called Re Act Materials to explore commercial options. 

Dr Foster summarizes: “Our catalyst can eliminate up to 90% of forever chemicals in water in as little as 3 hours-significantly faster than comparable solutions on the market. And because it can be produced from forest or farm waste, it’s more economical and sustainable compared to the more complex and costly methods currently in use.”


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