New filtration technology could be gamechanger in removal of Pfas ‘forever chemicals’
Researchers found a new way to filter and destroy Pfas chemicals at 100 times the rate of current systems
TL;DR
- Rice University developed a new filtration material (LDH) using copper and aluminum.
- This material absorbs long-chain PFAS 'forever chemicals' up to 100 times faster than current systems.
- A novel non-thermal process can destroy concentrated PFAS, breaking down their bonds at 400-500°C.
- The process traps fluoride in the LDH material, creating a safe calcium-fluoride byproduct that can be landfilled.
- The 'drop-in' nature of the material could allow integration with existing filtration infrastructure, potentially reducing costs.
- While promising, scaling these technologies for industrial use remains a significant challenge.