Technologies for Eliminating Pfas Contamination

Ultrasound may rid groundwater of toxic 'forever chemicals'. Ohio State University. Published: September 28, 2023. Excerpt: New research suggests ultrasound may have potential in treating a group of harmful chemicals known as #PFAS to eliminate them from contaminated #groundwater. Invented nearly a century ago, per- and #poly-#fluoroalkyl #substances, also known as “#forever #chemicals,” were once widely used to create products such as cookware, waterproof clothing and personal care items. Today, scientists understand #exposure to PFAS can cause a number of human health issues such as #birth #defects and #cancer. But because the bonds inside these chemicals do not break down easily, they’re notoriously difficult to remove from the environment. Difficulties have led researchers at The Ohio State University to study how #ultrasonic #degradation, a process that uses sound to degrade substances by cleaving apart the molecules that make them up, might work against different types and concentrations of these chemicals. By conducting experiments on lab-made mixtures containing three differently sized compounds of #fluorotelomer #sulfonates – PFAS compounds typically found in firefighting foams – results showed that over a period of three hours, the smaller compounds degraded much faster than the larger ones. This is in contrast to many other PFAS treatment methods in which smaller PFAS are actually more challenging to treat. “We showed the challenging smaller compounds can be treated, and more effectively than the larger compounds,” said co-author of the study Linda Weavers, a professor of civil, environmental and geodetic engineering at The Ohio State University. “That’s what makes this technology potentially really valuable.” Publication: ACS | Journal of Physical Chemistry A. July 25, 2023 Kinetics and Mechanism of Ultrasonic Defluorination of Fluorotelomer Sulfonates https://lnkd.in/ert52dr4

Breakthrough Method Destroys ‘Forever Chemicals’—And Recycles Their Components Introduction: Tackling a Global Environmental Threat Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often dubbed “forever chemicals,” have long been used in everyday products like non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foams. Despite their usefulness, PFAS persist in the environment and human body, where they’ve been linked to serious health risks including several cancers. Until now, eliminating them safely and effectively has remained a daunting challenge. Key Details of the Discovery • Groundbreaking Research Team • Led by scientists from the University of Oxford and Colorado State University, the study was recently published in Nature. • Dr. Long Yang, a chemist at Oxford, called the method “a simple yet powerful solution” to a major global problem. • The New Method: Destroy and Recycle • PFAS samples are first treated with potassium phosphate salts. • Then, the mixture is ground together using metal ball bearings—a mechanical process known as ball milling. • This method breaks the tough chemical bonds that make PFAS so persistent. • Remarkably, it also recovers valuable elements, offering the potential for chemical reuse and recycling. • Advantages Over Previous Techniques • Traditional methods of PFAS destruction often require high temperatures, expensive equipment, or generate hazardous by-products. • This new approach is low-energy, scalable, and cleaner, making it a viable candidate for wide adoption in waste management and industrial cleanup efforts. Why It Matters: Health and Environmental Impact • A Major Public Health Victory • PFAS contamination affects drinking water supplies worldwide and has been associated with cancers, immune dysfunction, liver damage, and developmental issues. • The new method offers a way to neutralize existing PFAS pollution without creating new environmental hazards. • Scalability and Future Promise • The technology could be implemented in municipal waste treatment facilities, manufacturing plants, and environmental cleanup sites, especially in areas with severe PFAS contamination. • It represents a paradigm shift in managing chemical pollutants—combining destruction with resource recovery. This breakthrough doesn’t just destroy PFAS—it may also restore public trust in how we handle industrial chemicals and protect global health. Keith King https://lnkd.in/gHPvUttw

At Allonnia, we don’t see waste—we see untapped potential. For too long, industries have viewed contamination, pollution, and byproducts as problems to manage rather than opportunities to innovate. But what if we reimagined waste as a resource?   - Microbes that eat toxins. Researchers have identified bacteria that can break down oil spills, plastics, heavy metals and now harmful chemicals such as 1,4 Dioxane. -Bubbles that remove forever chemicals. Studies show that nanobubble technology can effectively remove PFAS, the "forever chemicals" linked to cancer and environmental damage. - Biotech that transforms contamination into value. Scientists are using synthetic biology to engineer microbes that capture valuable metals from mining waste, helping industries recover rare earth elements while reducing environmental harm. This isn’t science fiction—it’s happening now. Allonnia is building a world where nothing goes to waste. Let’s stop accepting waste as inevitable and start seeing it for what it really is: a failure of imagination.   #Biotech #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #Innovation #Leadership

FOR A CLEANER FUTURE: Rice researchers have developed an innovative solution to a pressing environmental challenge: removing and destroying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly called “forever chemicals.” A study led by James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry and professor of materials science and nanoengineering, and graduate student Phelecia Scotland unveils a method that not only eliminates PFAS from water systems but also transforms waste into high-value graphene, offering a cost-effective and sustainable approach to environmental remediation. This research was published March 31 in Nature Water. Marcy de Luna reports: #PFAS #chemical #chemicals #foreverchemical #foreverchemicals #waste #water #environment #graphene #science