Researchers from the University of Alberta describe a lab discovery that brings the removal of widespread and harmful compounds from the environment one step closer.
Toxic substances known as “forever chemicals” are difficult to remove from the environment, but two specialists at the University of Alberta say a newly discovered method to dispose of them in the lab is a step in the right direction.
Due to their strength and stability, the compounds, which are categorized as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are present in a wide range of goods.
They are resistant to chemical deterioration, can take high heat without degrading, and can repel fats and water.
However, these same qualities present a problem.
According to Rylan Lundgren, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, “These molecules are incredibly resistant, which makes them useful—but you also can’t get rid of them.”
Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids are a specific kind of PFAS that the researchers researched. “The environment doesn’t degrade these substances.
The significance of a recent study conducted by researchers in William Dichtel’s group at Northwestern University revealing the novel approach to remove these substances is discussed in an expert perspective by Lundgren and Joudan that was co-authored and published in the journal Science.
As a chemist, Joudan explains, “I look at the environmental behavior of these environmental pollutants termed PFAS while (Lundgren) researches fundamental organic chemistry reactivity.
We, therefore, have a combined experience that could significantly contribute to translating the impact of this effort.
Persistent and pervasive
According to Joudan, there are around 5,000 different PFAS, and because of their stability, they may easily move through air, water and other media, reaching places like the Arctic and isolated settlements in the Himalayas.
Even our food and water supply contain them.
There are numerous uses for all of these chemicals, according to Joudan. “They’re added to all kinds of things in our lives, whether it’s to help cleaning products spread better or to put out fires.
They have gotten to the point where they are visible everywhere.
According to Lundgren, the researchers who discovered the novel technique for getting rid of the compounds focused on a different region of the molecules than others do.
The new approach begins by breaking apart another group inside the molecule, as opposed to concentrating on the more robust and difficult-to-break carbon-fluorine bonds found in these compounds.
The new process shows promise
The novel method is significantly more accessible than the existing conventional ways for dealing with these compounds because it only requires water at a temperature of around 80 C and two very common chemicals to destroy the PFAS molecules.
It uses less energy to power the process and doesn’t require any expensive, specialized chemicals or catalysts.
It also doesn’t require any extreme conditions like high temperatures or high pressure.
An advance over remediation techniques that use physical separation, which only rearranges the molecules and leaves byproducts that still need to be dealt with, the approach also uses chemical degradation, meaning the molecules are broken apart and eliminated for good.
With the goal that it will someday be possible to apply to the cleanup of seriously contaminated areas in the environment, this group undertook a little bit of a deep dive into the fundamentals of how this all happens.
There aren’t many possibilities right now, and this is a completely different option from what’s being looked into right now, adds Joudan.
Although the new approach is a positive development, Joudan emphasizes that there is still a lot of work to be done before it can be used successfully in remediation efforts.
According to her, the procedure may need to be scaled up and further refined in order to handle remediation on a wider scale than merely in a container in a chemistry lab.
Compared to chemically eliminating the molecules once you obtain them, environmental remediation will be far more difficult, according to Lundgren.
It’s fantastic that we can do this; it will undoubtedly be helpful, but you have to find all of this stuff.
It is information that points to something, but Joudan continues that restrictions are still needed to forbid or severely restrict consumption.
Source: University of Alberta
