Breaking Down 'Forever Chemicals' to Clean Our Water

Topic: Environment

Scientists at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) developed two methods to break down per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). They used hydrodynamic cavitation and cold atmospheric plasma combined with gas dispersion. The goal is to reduce PFAS in water bodies, which can harm humans, animals, and plants.

Researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) have made a significant discovery that could help clean our water. They developed two processes to break down per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These 'forever chemicals' are extremely resistant to chemical degradation, but they can harm humans, animals, and plants if released into the environment.

PFAS enter rivers and oceans through wastewater and have been detected in high concentrations in the Elbe River. This is a potential health hazard for all living things. In Germany, researchers at HZDR are working on reducing the burden of PFAS on water bodies. They launched a preliminary study in 2022 to test their methods.

One of these methods uses hydrodynamic cavitation. This process involves passing PFAS-enriched water through a constriction, creating small vapor bubbles. The bubbles burst under pressure, exposing the attached PFAS to high temperatures and reactive chemicals that break them down. In an experiment, researchers were able to break down 37% of dissolved perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) molecules at a stable rate.

The team is now working on improving their process to achieve a degradation rate of over 80% for PFAS in the solution and mineralize more than 50% of fluorine bound in the chemicals.

Why It Matters

This discovery is important because PFAS can contaminate our water sources, affecting human health and the environment. If these methods become commercially viable, they could help reduce PFAS pollution worldwide.

Key Facts

• Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) developed two processes to break down per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
• Hydrodynamic cavitation is one of the methods used, which involves passing PFAS-enriched water through a constriction.
• The goal is to reduce PFAS in water bodies by over 80% and mineralize more than 50% of fluorine bound in the chemicals.
• PFAS can harm humans, animals, and plants if released into the environment.
• High concentrations of PFAS have been detected in the Elbe River.

Key Terms

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

A group of industrial chemicals that are extremely resistant to chemical degradation.

Hydrodynamic cavitation

A process that involves passing fluid through a constriction, creating small vapor bubbles.

Cold atmospheric plasma combined with gas dispersion

A method that uses cold atmospheric plasma and gas dispersion to break down PFAS.

Implications

This discovery is important because PFAS can contaminate our water sources, affecting human health and the environment. If these methods become commercially viable, they could help reduce PFAS pollution worldwide.