New method in the fight against forever chemicals
A new method using piezocatalysis can break down PFAS from water. (Illustration: Nico Garcia/ETHZ)
September 13, 2024 – Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new way to break down a dangerous subgroup of PFAS known as PFOS. With the help of nanoparticles and ultrasound, piezocatalysis could offer an effective alternative to existing processes in the future.
To break up the PFOS molecules and thus degrade them in water, the researchers used piezocatalysis for the first time. ‘Piezo’ refers to piezoelectricity, an electrical charge that is generated during mechanical deformation, and “catalysis” means accelerating a chemical reaction with suitable substances.
The method has had promising results in the laboratory, with tests showing that it degraded 90.5 percent of the PFOS.
Despite the success in the lab, the challenge of how to scale up the method for use in practice remains.
