Scientists think they've found a way to break down 'forever chemicals'

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), linked to cancer, are contaminating our drinking water, harming marine wildlife, and causing a number of not fully understood health complications, with few methods available to remove them. These substances, known as "forever chemicals," pose a serious threat to human health and the environment.

However, now, two independent international teams of scientists believe they have found an effective method to break down these so-called "forever chemicals" into harmless products such as carbon and salt. This discovery brings new hope for addressing PFAS pollution.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are called "forever chemicals" because of their strong carbon-fluorine bonds, which nothing in nature can break down. These substances have been used in industrial applications for decades in Australia and overseas due to their heat, water, stain, and oil resistance. In recent years, they have come under increasing scrutiny as their health impacts have become more apparent. PFAS have been linked to increased cholesterol levels, disruption of human hormones, impaired fertility, and an increased risk of certain cancers.

While some recycling methods are emerging, they often require harsh chemicals or extremely high temperatures, which limits their commercial application. Currently, a research team from China says they have found a way to break down PFAS using a light-activated catalyst. This catalyst absorbs light energy and uses this energy to break the carbon-fluorine bonds at temperatures similar to those in a running washing machine (40 to 60 degrees Celsius). When this method was used to treat the PFAS polytetrafluoroethylene, it broke down into carbon and fluoride salts.

The researchers also successfully broke down perfluorocarbons, perfluorooctane sulfonate, and perfluorooctanoic acid into carbonates, formates, oxalates, and trifluoroacetates, which can be safely recovered as salts. In another study, researchers from Colorado State University in the United States tried a different light-absorbing catalyst. This blue-light-absorbing catalyst, when combined with fluoride, was also found to effectively break down PFAS. Scientists say their method uses readily available chemicals and has the potential for large-scale application. The results of both studies were published today in the scientific journal Nature.