Removing PFAS with magnets: University of Queensland researchers develop water safeguarding technique

23 Jan 2023 --- Researchers at the University of Queensland, Australia, have developed a novel solution for removing the “forever chemicals” PFAS from water – something the study authors say is “urgently needed” to combat common public health risks like liver and kidney disease. 

PFAS is commonly used as a grease-repellent barrier in fiber-based packaging like fast food containers. Mounting evidence that the chemical group is persistent and damaging to human and environmental health has spurred a recent wave of industrial action to find alternative solutions, including improved waste management techniques. 

Polymer chemist Cheng Zhang and Ph.D. candidate Xiao Tan at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology cleared 95% of PFAS from a small amount of contaminated water in less than a minute. 

“In this work, novel magnetic fluorinated polymer sorbents were designed to allow efficient capture of PFAS and fast magnetic recovery of the sorbed material,” explain the researchers. “The new sorbent has superior PFAS removal efficiency compared with the commercially available activated carbon and ion-exchange resins.” 

PFAS use in foodservice packaging is linked to serious health harms like kidney and liver disease.Magnetic sorbet 
The solution coats PFAS particles and then uses a magnet to attract, isolate and remove them, Zhang explains. 

He reportedly explains that existing PFAS removal methods require types of machinery like pumps, which consume a lot of time and resources. “The new method shows it is possible to remove more of these chemicals in a way that is faster, cheaper, cleaner, and simple.”

“Because our process does not need electricity, it can be used in remote and off-grid communities.” 

The solution itself can be reused up to ten times. The research team will now scale up the testing and says it hopes to have a commercially available product ready in the next three years.

The work has reportedly been funded by the Australian Research Council, the National Health and Medical Research Council, The Chemours Company, and the US Department of Defense, and was overseen by AIBN head of research Professor Andrew Whittaker.

The study is published in Angewandte Chemie.

Action against PFAS 
The study comes as political pressure is mounting against the use of PFAS in packaging around the world. As of January 1, the US state of New York has officially banned all PFAS chemicals under the Hazardous Packaging Act, and applies to any packaging products designed for direct food contact. 

Last year, Flinders University materials researchers in Australia and One-Five, a German biomaterials developer, began using seaweed extracts to develop biopolymer coating materials to replace current foodservice packaging. 

The researchers developed a prototype coating from seaweed that they state meets the functional requirements of conventional grease-resistant packaging materials. Using seaweed creates a circular solution, allowing the grease-resistant film to be biodegradable, deriving from natural ingredients. 

Edited by Louis Gore-Langton 

This feature is provided by NutritionInsight’s sister website, PackagingInsights.

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