“This study has identified intermediary molecules that are critical for us to ensure the PFAS molecule is completely destroyed, and to ensure no harmful byproducts are formed,” he said.
Co-author from Colorado State University, Professor Anthony Rappé, said, “This international team effort is illustrative of the collaborative environmental work that CSIRO leads.”
The ultimate goal of incinerating PFAS is a process called “mineralization.” This converts the strong fluorocarbon chains into inorganic compounds like calcium fluoride, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water.
These byproducts can, in turn, be captured at the source and transformed into reusable materials such as industrial chemicals, concrete, fertilizers and fuels.
While further research is needed, these insights offer a promising option for destroying PFAS safely, and for good.
PFAS occur in a range of consumer, industrial, and commercial products, such as non-stick food packaging and cookware, and legacy firefighting foams.
The chemicals can leach into soils and groundwater, travel long distances, and do not fully break down naturally, giving them their moniker of “forever chemicals.”
Awesome! So this is true annihilation with no harmful residue. There is hope!
This is helpful for known sites of high contamination, but good luck gathering them from far and wide where they are in the environment more diluted.
But can it power my car?? If not, then I’m not investing my $1
