Clean and safe drinking water is essential for human health and well-being. However, the presence of harmful chemicals, such as “forever chemicals” in drinking water, poses a significant threat to public health. Forever chemicals, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are toxic and persistent chemicals that do not break down easily in the environment, and can accumulate in the body over time, leading to a range of health problems.
In a breakthrough discovery, a team of engineers at the University of British Columbia has developed a new water treatment method that can remove forever chemicals from drinking water safely, efficiently, and permanently. Unlike traditional water treatment methods, which can remove some PFAS but not all, this new method can remove all types of PFAS in one step, and the removed PFAS cannot be regenerated, making it a permanent solution.
The new treatment method involves using a combination of heat, hydrogen peroxide, and a catalyst to break down the PFAS into harmless compounds that can be safely discharged into the environment. The process is cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and can be easily scaled up to treat large volumes of water.
The development of this new water treatment method is a significant step towards providing safe and clean drinking water for all. It offers a solution to a global problem and can help protect public health and the environment. The engineers at the University of British Columbia have demonstrated the potential of science and technology to address some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity today.
“Think Brita filter, but a thousand times better,” says UBC chemical and biological engineering professor Dr. Madjid Mohseni, who developed the technology.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals”, are a group of more than 4,700 substances that are widely used in products such as raingear, non-stick cookware, and stain repellents. However, research has linked PFAS to various health problems, including hormonal disruption, cardiovascular disease, developmental delays, and cancer, among others.
Dr. Mohseni and his team have developed a unique adsorbing material that can effectively trap and hold all PFAS present in the water supply. To remove the PFAS, the team has employed special electrochemical and photochemical techniques, which have been developed at the Mohseni lab and described in a new paper recently published in Chemosphere.
Despite the existence of treatments such as activated carbon and ion-exchange systems, which are widely used in homes and industries, they are not effective in capturing all types of PFAS or may require longer treatment time, as explained by Dr. Mohseni. Therefore, the development of this new treatment method offers a more effective and efficient solution to remove PFAS from drinking water, potentially reducing the health risks associated with exposure to these harmful chemicals.
“Our adsorbing media captures up to 99 percent of PFAS particles and can also be regenerated and potentially reused. This means that when we scrub off the PFAS from these materials, we do not end up with more highly toxic solid waste that will be another major environmental challenge.”
Although PFAS are no longer produced in Canada, they can still be found in many consumer products, and their use can result in environmental contamination. When PFAS-treated products are used or washed, the chemicals can leach into water sources and eventually find their way into our bodies. Therefore, exposure to PFAS can occur through food, consumer products, and drinking water, especially for those living in areas with contaminated water sources.
Dr. Mohseni’s research group is also focused on developing water solutions for rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. The adsorbing media developed by the team is particularly beneficial for these communities, which may not have the resources to implement advanced and expensive solutions to capture PFAS. These media can also be used as decentralized and in-home water treatments.
Starting this month, the UBC team will begin piloting the new PFAS removal technology at several locations in British Columbia. By effectively removing PFAS from drinking water, the technology can potentially reduce health risks associated with exposure to these harmful chemicals and provide clean and safe drinking water to communities.
“The results we obtain from these real-world field studies will allow us to further optimize the technology and have it ready as products that municipalities, industry and individuals can use to eliminate PFAS in their water,” said Dr. Mohseni.
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