To eliminate PFAS from drinking water, Dr. Mohseni and his group devised a distinct adsorbing product that can trapping and holding all the PFAS present in the supply of water.
UBC scientists devised an unique adsorbing product that is capable of recording all the PFAS present in the water supply. Credit: Mohseni Lab/UBC
The PFAS are then destroyed utilizing unique electrochemical and photochemical methods, likewise developed at the Mohseni laboratory and described in part in a new paper published just recently in Chemosphere.
UBC researcher, teacher Madjid Mohseni. Credit: University of British Columbia
While there are treatments presently on the marketplace, like activated carbon and ion-exchange systems which are widely used in homes and market, they do not efficiently capture all the various PFAS, or they need longer treatment time, Dr. Mohseni described.
” Our adsorbing media captures as much as 99 percent of PFAS particles and can likewise be regenerated and potentially reused. This suggests that when we scrub off the PFAS from these materials, we do not end up with more highly hazardous solid waste that will be another significant environmental challenge.”
He explained that while PFAS are no longer made in Canada, they are still incorporated in lots of consumer products and can then seep into the environment. When we use stain-resistant or repellent sprays/materials, wash PFAS-treated raingear, or use certain foams to put down fires, the chemicals end up in our waterways. Or when we use PFAS-containing cosmetics and sun blocks, the chemicals could find their method into the body.
For many people, exposure is through food and consumer products, but they can also be exposed from drinking water– especially if they live in locations with polluted water sources.
Dr. Mohseni, whose research study group likewise focuses on developing water services for rural, remote, and Indigenous communities, noted: “Our adsorbing media are particularly advantageous for individuals residing in smaller communities who lack resources to implement the most advanced and costly services that might capture PFAS. These can likewise be used in the kind of decentralized and at home water treatments.”
The UBC group is preparing to pilot the brand-new technology at a number of areas in B.C. starting this month.
” The outcomes we get from these real-world field research studies will allow us to more enhance the technology and have it all set as products that municipalities, industry, and individuals can use to eliminate PFAS in their water,” said Dr. Mohseni.
Referral: “Electrochemical degradation of PFOA and its typical options: Assessment of crucial parameters, roles of active species, and transformation pathway” by Fatemeh Asadi Zeidabadi, Ehsan Banayan Esfahani, Sean T. McBeath, Kristian L. Dubrawski and Madjid Mohseni, 3 January 2023, Chemosphere.DOI: 10.1016/ j.chemosphere.2023.137743.
PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are a group of artificial chemicals that have been commonly used in various industrial and customer products due to their special residential or commercial properties, such as resistance to heat, oil, and water. However, PFAS have actually been found to be consistent in the environment and can bioaccumulate in the body, resulting in prospective health dangers such as thyroid dysfunction, reproductive and developmental toxicity, and increased danger of specific cancers.
The engineers at the University of British Columbia have actually produced an advanced water treatment system that effectively and safely removes “forever chemicals” from drinking water as soon as and for all.
” Think Brita filter, however a thousand times much better,” states UBC chemical and biological engineering teacher Dr. Madjid Mohseni, who established the innovation.
Permanently chemicals, officially known as PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a vast group of substances that offer particular products their non-stick and stain-resistant qualities. With over 4,700 different types of PFAS in usage, these chemicals are typically discovered in rain equipment, non-stick cookware, stain repellents, and firefighting foam. Studies have connected PFAS to various health concerns, consisting of hormonal imbalance, heart disease, developmental issues, and even cancer.
Forever chemicals, officially known as PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl compounds) are a vast group of compounds that offer specific products their non-stick and stain-resistant qualities. With over 4,700 various types of PFAS in usage, these chemicals are commonly discovered in rain equipment, non-stick pots and pans, stain repellents, and firefighting foam. When we use stain-resistant or repellent sprays/materials, wash PFAS-treated raingear, or use particular foams to put down fires, the chemicals end up in our waterways. Or when we utilize PFAS-containing cosmetics and sun blocks, the chemicals could discover their way into the body.