Engineers develop all-in-one solution to capture and destroy ‘forever chemicals’

Chemical engineers at the University of British Columbia have developed a new treatment that traps and treats PFAS substances, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in a single, integrated system.

The search appears in Natural communications engineering.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in consumer goods such as waterproof clothing because of their resistance to heat, water, and stains. However, they are also pollutants, often ending up in surface and ground water around the world, where they are linked to cancer, liver damage, and other health problems.

“PFAS are notoriously difficult to break down, whether they are in the environment or in the human body,” said Dr. Johan Foster, principal investigator and associate professor of chemical and biological engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science. “Our system will remove and destroy these substances in the water supply before they can harm our health.”

Catch and destroy

The UBC system combines an activated carbon filter with a special patented catalyst that captures harmful chemicals and breaks them down into harmless components on the filter material. Scientists call this capture of chemical components adsorption.

“The process is relatively fast, depending on the amount of water being treated,” Dr. Foster said. “We can run huge volumes of water through this catalyst, which will adsorb PFAS and destroy them in two quick steps. 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 rather than just pushing back the deadline.”

No light? No problem

Like other water treatments, the UBC system requires ultraviolet light to work, but it does not need as much UV light as other methods.

During testing, the UBC catalyst consistently removed over 85% of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid, a type of perennial chemical), even in low light conditions.

“Our catalyst is not limited by ideal conditions. Its effectiveness under different UV light intensities ensures its applicability in diverse settings, including regions with limited sunlight exposure,” said Dr. Raphaell Moreira, a professor at the University of Bremen, who conducted the research while at UBC.

For example, a northern municipality that receives little sunlight could still benefit from this type of PFAS solution.

“While initial experiments focused on PFAS compounds, the catalyst’s versatility suggests its potential to remove other types of persistent contaminants, offering a promising solution to pressing water pollution problems,” explained Dr. Moreira.

From municipal water to industrial cleaning

The team believes the catalyst could be a low-cost, effective solution for municipal water systems as well as specialized industrial projects like cleaning waste streams.

They formed a company, ReAct Materials, to explore commercial options for their technology.

“Our catalyst can remove up to 90% of perennial chemicals from water in just three hours, which is significantly faster than comparable solutions available on the market. And because it can be produced from forestry or agricultural waste, it is more cost-effective and sustainable than the more complex and expensive methods currently used,” said Dr Foster.