Researchers at the University of British Columbia have developed a cost-effective and environmentally friendly catalyst that can remove 'forever chemicals' (PFAS) from water supplies. PFAS, known for their water and heat resistance, are harmful to human health. The new catalyst combines iron salts and biochar to both trap and break down PFAS, offering a sustainable solution to this global contamination issue.
New UBC catalyst removes 'forever chemicals' from water supplies before they can cause lasting harm. Researchers left to right: Dr. Raphaell Moreira, Pani Rostami and Dr. Johan Foster.Have you worn a waterproof garment recently or used a piece of non-stick cookware? Chances are that those items were made with the help of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS .
Mohseni suggested looking into iron salts, which are known to break down the ultrastrong carbon-fluorine bonds in PFAS. This sparked an idea for Foster, who had already been experimenting with biochar in his lab – wood chips burned into charcoal, known for their high absorbency. “It absorbs the PFAS, then the catalyst on there starts to break it down.” After their initial discovery, Foster’s lab continued experimenting with the solution.“We changed the salt concentrations, how we made them and the temperature we burn them at,” he explains, eventually landing on a product that was both effective, cheap and scalable. They even found ways to hasten the filtration process. “It is a photocatalyst, so if you shine a light on it, that will speed things up,” Foster says.
PFAS Catalyst Biochar Water Treatment Pollution
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