Scientists in the US have developed a new, simple method that, for the first time, can break down so-called “permanent” per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are used as non-stick and waterproof products in a variety of products. (kitchen utensils, cosmetics, clothing, etc.). The new method decapitates these polluting chemicals and breaks them down into harmless substances.

PFAS, a group of thousands of related industrial chemicals widely used since the 1940s, are called “permanent” because bacteria cannot “eat” them, fire cannot burn them, and water cannot destroy them. If these toxic chemicals are buried in the ground, they will enter the soil and become a pollution problem for generations.

Researchers at Northwestern University in Illinois, led by chemistry professor William Dichtel, who made a corresponding publication in the journal Science, have achieved what until now seemed impossible: using low temperatures and cheap active substances, they developed a process that separates the two main classes PFAS (Perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acids PFCA and PFECA). The achievement could be an effective solution to permanently get rid of these chemicals that are harmful to humans, animals and the environment, as they have been found in drinking water and blood, among others.

Exposure to these substances has been linked to reduced fertility, developmental problems in children, increased risk of various types of cancer, thyroid and liver damage, decreased immune ability to fight infections, increased cholesterol levels, and more. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently classified several PFAS as unsafe, even in very small amounts.

“PFAS have become a serious social problem. Even a small amount of them causes negative health effects, while it is not destroyed subsequently. We can’t just wait for the problem to resolve itself. We used chemistry to find a solution that people can use, and it’s amazing how simple – and still overlooked – this solution is,” said Dichtel, who pointed out that in terms of risk, “several PFAS are at the same risk. “. category as a lead.

Their durability is due to the fact that PFASs contain several bonds of carbon and fluorine atoms, which are among the strongest in organic chemistry. American researchers have found the chemical “Achilles’ heel” of PFAS and thus a way – with the help of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) – to split the PFAS molecule into carbon dioxide and fluorides, which are safer fluorine compounds.

This method will now be tested on other types of PFAS as the EPA has identified more than 12,000 such substances. Diktel optimistically stated that “Our research so far has focused on one of the largest classes of PFASs, which includes many of the most troubling substances. There are other classes that don’t have the same Achilles’ heel, but each will have its own weakness. If we can find it, we will learn how to destroy them too.”

^{Source: RES-IPE}