Rice University researchers have developed an innovative solution for pressing environmental challenges: removing and destroying humans and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), commonly known as “forever chemicals.”
A study leads Byjames Tour, TT and WF CHAO professor of chemistry, professor of materials science and nanoengineering, and graduate student Phlecia Scotland reveals a way to not only eliminate PFA in water systems, but also eliminate waste from water systems and convert waste into high-value graphene, thus providing a cost-effective and sustainable approach to environmental retraining. The study was held on March 31 Natural water.
PFA is a synthetic compound in a variety of consumer products, with its heat, water and oil resistance. However, their chemical stability keeps them persisting in the environment, contaminating water supplies and posing significant health risks, including cancer and immune system disruptions. Traditional PFA disposal methods are expensive, energy-intensive, and often produce secondary pollutants, leading to the need for more effective and environmentally friendly innovative solutions.
“Our approach not only destroys these dangerous chemicals; it turns waste into something valuable,” Tour said. “By upgrading used carbon to graphene, we create a process that is not only environmentally beneficial but also economically viable, helping to offset remedial costs.”
The research team’s process uses Flash Joule Heating (FJH) to address these challenges. By combining particulate activated carbon (GAC) to PFA-filled granular activated carbon (GAC) and mineralizers such as sodium or calcium salts, the researchers applied a high voltage in one second to generate temperatures above 3,000 degrees Celsius. Strong heat breaks down the strong carbon fluorine bonds in PFA, thus converting them into an inert, non-toxic fluoride salt. Meanwhile, GAC has been upgraded to graphene, a valuable material used from electronic devices to buildings.
The results of this study resulted in 96% defluorination efficiency and 99.98% perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), one of the most common PFAS contaminants. Analytical tests confirmed that the reaction produced undetectable harmful volatile organic fluoride, a common by-product of other PFA treatments. This method also eliminates secondary waste associated with traditional disposal methods, such as incineration or adding used carbon to landfills.
“This dual usage is a game-changer,” Scotland said. “It translates waste into a resource while providing a scalable, cost-effective solution to urgent environmental problems.”
The implications of this study go beyond PFOA and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, the two most studied PFAs. It works even for the most stubborn PFAS type, TeflonR. The high temperatures obtained during FJH suggest that this approach may reduce a wide range of PFA compounds, paving the way for wider water treatment and waste management applications. The FJH process can also be tailored to produce other valuable carbon-based materials, including carbon nanotubes and nanostools, further enhancing its versatility and economic appeal.
“With its commitment to net costs of zero, scalability and environmental benefits, our approach represents a step in the fight against eternal chemicals,” Scotland said. “As concerns about PFA pollution continue to grow, this breakthrough provides hope for protecting water quality and protecting global public health.”
The study’s co-authors were from Rice, including the Department of Chemistry of Kevin Wyss, Yi Cheng, Lucas Eddy, Jacob Beckham, Justin Sharp, Tengda Si, Bing Deng, and Michael Wong; Youngkun Chung, Bo Wang, and Juan Donoso, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Chi Hun Choi, Yimo Han, Boris Yakobson, and Yufeng Zhao, Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering; Yu-Yi Shen and Mason Tomson, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Other co-authors include Sarah Grace Zetterholm and Christopher Griggs from the U.S. Army Engineer R&D Center.
The research is funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, the Stauffer-Rothwell Scholarship and the Rice College Fellowship.
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