Researchers at The University of Queensland have pioneered a simple, fast and effective technique to remove PFAS chemicals from water.
Using a magnet and a reusable absorption aid that they developed, polymer chemist Dr Cheng Zhang and PhD candidate Xiao Tan at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology have cleared 95 per cent of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from a small amount of contaminated water in under a minute.
“Removing PFAS chemicals from contaminated waters is urgently needed to safeguard public and environmental health,” Dr Zhang said.
“But existing methods require machinery like pumps, take a lot of time and need their own power source.
“Our method shows it is possible to remove more of these chemicals in a way that is faster, cheaper, cleaner, and very simple.
“Because our process does not need electricity, it can be used in remote and off-grid communities.”
PFAS substances are synthetic compounds used in industry and consumer products since the 1950s, but they persist in the environment potentially leading to human health problems.
The PFAS removal technique developed by Dr Zhang and Mr Tan involves treating contaminated water with a new solution, called a magnetic fluorinated polymer sorbent.
“This solution that we developed coats the PFAS particles and then we can use a magnet to attract, isolate and remove them,” Dr Zhang said.
“The solution itself can be reused up to 10 times.
“Our team will now scale up the testing and we hope to have a commercially available product ready in the next three years.”
Original Article: Magnetic method to clean PFAS contaminated water
More from: University of Queensland
The Latest Updates from Bing News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
- EU floats plan that would ban virtually every PFAS currently on the market
A proposal that would effectively ban the controversial class of chemical compounds known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the EU was published by the European Chemicals Agency (Echa) ...
- Makeup for children contains highly poisonous chemicals - study
Poisonous chemicals that are often used in makeup are especially dangerous for children because of their undeveloped immune systems.
- Elkton to begin PFAS chemicals removal from water supply
The Town of Elkton is preparing to eliminate potentially dangerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from its water supply after the town’s Mayor and Commissioners unanimously approved an ...
- PFAS detected in soil at Oak Bluffs School
it was found that soils at the Oak Bluffs School “report consistently higher PFAS concentrations than [MVRHS] soils.” One of the chemical compounds analyzed, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), ...
- EU agency to start evaluation on ‘forever chemicals’ ban
also known as ‘forever chemicals’. The proposal to reduce PFAS emissions into the environment and make products and processes safer for people was filed on 13 January from four EU member states – ...
Go deeper with Bing News on:
PFAS removal technique
- Adiós al "para siempre" - Destruir los PFAS triturándolos con un nuevo aditivo
Las sustancias perfluoroalquiladas y polifluoroalquiladas (PFAS) son sustancias potencialmente nocivas conocidas como "sustancias químicas para siempre" por lo difícil que resulta destruirlas. Una ...
- Fryeburg PFAS-removal system up and running
Thanks for sharing Ian. This shows to me the ubiquitous nature of PFAS and how far it has spread.
- What Are Forever Chemicals? Behind the Plastic Villains That Refuse to Die
Scientists are researching some promising ways to destroy these compounds, which can cause serious health problems. When it encounters liquid-based fires, a foamy, white substance—called aqueous ...
- Magnetic solution removes toxic "forever chemicals" from water in seconds
Now, researchers at the University of Queensland have developed a technique that could help remove PFAS chemicals from water. The team designed a solution called a magnetic fluorinated polymer ...
- Magnetic attraction used to remove PFAS pollution
University of Queensland researchers have pioneered a technique to remove per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals from water. Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 ...