In a significant breakthrough, researchers at the University of California – Riverside, in collaboration with Clarkson University, have unveiled a new method to tackle the persistent pollution caused by “forever chemicals” from decades of fire suppressant foam use at military facilities. This discovery, published in the journal Nature Water, offers a promising solution to the environmental and health hazards posed by poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
PFAS are found in a wide range of everyday items, from potato chip bags to non-stick pans, but they are especially prevalent in fire-suppressing foams used at military air bases and commercial airports. Their strong chemical bonds allow them to remain in the environment indefinitely, contaminating groundwater and raising concerns about their connection to various cancers and other health issues.
In response to the severity of this issue, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently set a strict rule: water utilities must reduce the contamination levels of certain PFAS compounds to below 4 parts per trillion. This rule highlighted the urgent need for effective cleanup methods, which the new research by UC Riverside and Clarkson University aims to address.
The research team, led by Jinyong Liu from UC Riverside and Yang Yang from Clarkson University, developed a method combining ultra-violet (UV) light treatment, sulfite, and electrochemical oxidation. In simpler terms, they use a special kind of light and a chemical process to break down the stubborn chemical bonds in PFAS. This innovative approach also tackles other organic compounds in the water that can interfere with the cleanup process.
One of the key benefits of this method is that it works at room temperature, without needing extra heat or pressure. This makes it a practical and effective solution for cleaning up contaminated water in real-world situations, where the water can be complex and full of various contaminants.
Fire-suppressing foams have been a significant source of PFAS pollution due to their widespread use in the military. Developed by the U.S. Navy in the 1960s, these foams quickly smother fires by forming a protective layer over burning fuels. The Department of Defense’s assessment revealed that out of 715 military sites, 574 need further investigation or cleanup to comply with federal regulations.
This new cleanup strategy is particularly suitable for treating water heavily contaminated from flushing out firefighting equipment or managing leftover PFAS-containing foams. It can also help water utilities deal with groundwater pollution. Typically, groundwater treatment involves ion exchange technologies, where PFAS molecules stick to resin beads in large tanks. The method by Liu and Yang also helps rejuvenate these beads, making them reusable, which promotes a sustainable approach to managing these materials.
According to Lui’s statement in Science Daily, “We want to have sustainable management of the resin. We want to reuse it.”
This research, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program, not only presents a viable solution to a pressing environmental issue but also paves the way for broader applications in water treatment and pollution control.
As efforts to combat PFAS pollution intensify, the innovative work of Liu, Yang, and their colleagues underscores the importance of creative scientific solutions in protecting public health and the environment. This study demonstrates the potential of integrated photo-electrochemical processes to achieve almost complete destruction of these stubborn pollutants, marking an optimistic step forward in the quest for a cleaner, safer planet.
