George George Idowu
In a significant breakthrough, scientists at the university of Queensland have developed a cutting-edge filtration technology that can effectively remove harmful “forever chemicals” from drinking water, while simultaneously offering a sustainable solution for renewable battery production.
The technology, created by the Australian institute for bio engineering and nanotechnology (aibn), addresses the growing concerns about polyfluoroalkyl substances (pfas) in the environment and human health.
Pfas compounds, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” are synthetic chemicals found in a wide range of consumer products, from non-stick cookware to firefighting foam. They are incredibly resistant to breakdown, making them highly persistent in the environment and the human body.
Their durability has raised alarms due to potential adverse effects on human health and ecosystems, yet current technology struggles to efficiently remove them from contaminated sources.
Dr. Cheng zhang, a polymer chemist at aibn, led the development of the new filtration system, which employs a proprietary sorbet solution combined with an ion-exchange technique.
This approach is more than five times more effective than any existing technology available on the market.
Dr. Zhang claims the filter can reduce pfas levels in drinking water to “basically non-detectable” amounts, well below the safety thresholds set by the environmental protection agency (epa).
Not only does this technology address pfas contamination in drinking water, but it is also capable of treating industrial landfill leachate, a significant advancement over current commercial solutions.
Dr. Zhang expressed confidence that the technology would be ready for commercial production within three years, with plans to either license the innovation or establish a start-up company.
“what we’re trying to do now is either license the technology or create a start-up company,” he said.
“the final goal for us is to further commercialize our technology and make it useful to solve real-world problems and make a pfas-free world.”
One of the most striking features of the new filtration system is its dual-purpose capability. In addition to removing pfas from contaminated water, the system captures the extracted chemicals, allowing them to be repurposed for use in renewable battery technology.
According to dr. Zhang, these recycled pfas compounds possess excellent properties that make them suitable for use in high-performance rechargeable batteries.
“the increasing demand for high-performance rechargeable batteries means manufacturers are constantly searching for new materials that improve the energy density, safety, and cycling stability of batteries,” dr. Zhang explained.
“recycled pfas has excellent properties for this purpose.”
This innovative application is the first of its kind globally, offering a sustainable solution for both environmental cleanup and renewable energy storage. With the rising demand for energy-dense and safe battery technology, repurposed pfas could play a vital role in the future of renewable energy systems.
The pfas filtration technology will be tested at Brisbane’s luggage point wastewater treatment plant, one of the world’s largest recycled water facilities.
Dr. Zhang and his team plan to expand testing to other sites in the coming years, with potential trials at landfill sites and partnerships with companies dealing with contaminated compost leachate.
The pilot program has received $1 million in funding from the advance Queensland industry research projects program, reflecting significant governmental support for the technology’s development.
While this breakthrough marks a significant step forward, experts like professor o’carroll emphasize that much more research is needed to fully understand the widespread environmental and health impacts of pfas.
Professor o’carroll also urged society to take a broader look at the range of harmful chemicals being released into the environment every day.
“we need to look at the human health and ecosystem impacts of pfas that we’ve put into the environment,” he said.
“pfas is one example, but there are a range of chemicals we put out into the environment every day, so we need to have a broad consideration as a society.”
The university of Queensland’s pioneering pfas filter technology represents a major step towards addressing one of the most persistent environmental challenges of our time. With the potential to not only purify drinking water but also contribute to renewable energy, this innovation holds promise for a cleaner, more sustainable future.
As trials move forward, the world watches with anticipation for this game-changing technology to hit the commercial market.
