Technologies for Eliminating Pfas Contamination

🥳🥳🥳 Our study on engineering enzymes to break C–F bonds is now out in Angewandte Chemie! A huge congrats to the brilliant & dedicated Suzanne C. Jansen and Pauline van Beers for taking this first critical step toward the future bioremediation of #PFAS and other contaminating organofluorides! In this work, we developed a high-throughput selection system to engineer fluoroacetate dehalogenases (FAcDs). By challenging E. coli populations expressing diverse FAcD libraries to grow on non-natural organofluorides as their sole carbon source, we isolated a panel of FAcD variants with enhanced activity and expanded substrate specificity. This study represents the first large-scale engineering campaign for FAcDs, introducing a simple yet powerful selection platform to adapt these enzymes for the sustainable degradation of synthetic organofluorides. #EnzymeEngineering #DirectedEvolution #Bioremediation https://lnkd.in/eN4Bm3Dx

🚨 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝙀𝙎&𝙏 𝙇𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨! This work introduces a novel “extract-and-degrade” strategy that uses acetonitrile and UV light to simultaneously degrade PFAS and regenerate granular activated carbon (GAC) under mild conditions; closing the loop for adsorbent reuse and solvent recycling. It’s a step toward alternative, scalable PFAS remediation. What makes this discovery special is how it builds on a journey of collaborative innovation. Our earlier work with Dichtel et al. in 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 demonstrated low-temperature mineralization of PFCAs, inspiring new thinking about activation pathways. A huge shoutout to the incredible team behind this latest work: Jan-Max Arana Juve, Juan Andres Donoso Reece, Michael Wong, and Zongsu Wei. Your creativity and dedication make these breakthroughs possible. The same team has before explored photocatalytic and size-selective strategies for PFAS degradation: 1- Photocatalysts for Chemical-Free PFOA Degradation – What we know and where we go from here? (J. Hazard. Mater., 2023) 2- Complete defluorination of PFAS—dream or reality? (Curr. Opin. Chem. Eng., 2023) 3- Size-selective trapping and photocatalytic degradation of PFOA in Fe-modified zeolite frameworks (Appl. Catal. B, 2024) 4- Most recently, we published best practices for experimental design and reporting of PFAS-degrading technologies (Environ. Sci. Technol., 2025), setting the stage for rigorous innovation. The common thread? A relentless pursuit of practical, science-driven solutions to break the PFAS cycle and moving from fundamental mechanisms to applied strategies that can scale. PFAS remediation is one of the toughest challenges in water technology. These collective efforts show that progress happens when we combine mechanistic insight, engineering practicality, and global collaboration. #AECOM #PFAS #WaterTreatment #EnvironmentalScience #Innovation #Collaboration #ResearchImpact Rice WaTER Institute

Hemp, known for its versatility, is now being recognized for its potential in cleaning up PFAS contamination through phytoremediation. This process involves plants like hemp absorbing contaminants from soil and water. Specifically, hemp shows promise in absorbing PFAS, particularly smaller, more water-soluble molecules. While hemp's absorption capabilities vary, researchers are exploring innovative approaches to enhance its uptake, such as utilizing nanoparticles to mobilize larger, less soluble PFAS molecules. In phytoremediation, hemp plants leverage their root systems to absorb PFAS, with a preference for smaller molecules due to their higher water solubility. Researchers are actively seeking ways to boost hemp's capacity to take in larger PFAS molecules, with nanoparticle assistance being a key focus for improving accessibility to the plant's roots. Moreover, studies indicate that hemp plants may not only absorb but also degrade PFAS over an extended period, potentially accelerating a natural process that could span thousands of years. Further research delves into leveraging fungi and bacteria to aid in the degradation of PFAS within hemp plants. Additionally, the application of hydrothermal liquefaction can play a vital role in breaking down the biomass of harvested hemp plants, offering a potential avenue for further diminishing PFAS levels. Notably, hemp-based remediation proves to be a cost-effective alternative to traditional methods, making it a viable solution for addressing large-scale contamination scenarios. With practical applications in mind, planting hemp in contaminated areas presents a sustainable approach to gradually reducing PFAS levels, especially in circumstances where conventional methods may not be as feasible. Hemp's unique properties position it as a valuable asset in the ongoing quest for effective environmental remediation strategies. HEMP YES 💚

Excited to share our latest publication in ACS ES&T Engineering: “Quaternary-Ammonium-Grafted Flax Fibers for Removal and Release of Short-Chain PFAS from Water.” In this study, we coupled advanced polymer grafting with native, renewable New Zealand flax fibers to create a low-cost, regenerable, and effective sorbent. These quaternary-ammonium-grafted fibers captured short-chain PFAS with high efficiency, outperforming conventional and costly sorbents. Because the fibers are mechanically strong, easy to regenerate, and readily scalable as packed media, they show promise as a practical and sustainable green alternative for PFAS polishing in water-treatment systems. Shailja Data, Erin Leitao, Melanie Kah, David Barker, Joseph J. Pignatello #PFAS #WaterTreatment #Sustainability #EmergingContaminants https://lnkd.in/dbx69Tpz

Allonnia just pulled in another $20M+ to extend its Series A, and it feels like watching a biotech turntable finally hit club volume. The company built on the belief that waste still has untapped value is stepping into its commercial era with the kind of momentum that makes even the quiet investors clear their throats. Viking Global Investors, Bison Ventures, General Atlantic, BHP Ventures and Pivotal Capital Partners did not gather around this round for a sightseeing tour. They backed a team led by CEO Nicole Richards and CTO Kent Sorenson that has shown it can turn #biology into an industrial force multiplier instead of a science fair project with good intentions. The proof is already on the board. At SGS Lakefield, a 5 day continuous run on #nickelsulfide concentrate cut #magnesium impurities by 40% and boosted nickel grade by 18%, all using #recyclablebiosolutions that behaved more like seasoned craftsmen than chemicals on a tear. Those numbers alone can shift mine economics, which is why the upcoming deployment of the mobile D Solve unit at Eagle Mine in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is more than a field test. Processing 1 to 2 tonnes of concentrate a day is a declaration that bio selective separation is leaving the lab and entering payroll. But Allonnia is not a single hit act. SAFF has already treated 4M+ gallons of PFAS contaminated water and now tackles short chain compounds. The 1,4 Dioxane D Stroy tech wipes out 99% of a notoriously stubborn #carcinogenic contaminant, turning it into H2O and CO2 like it is rewriting the rules of cleanup kinetics. The PFAS #biosensor that detects parts per trillion feels like a new superhero origin story, one built on proteins instead of capes. These products form a portfolio aligned with an economy that no longer has room for waste as an afterthought. The leadership bench reads like a company preparing for scale rather than survival mode. Nicole Richards steering strategy with decades of industrial depth. Kent Sorenson grounding the tech with global remediation authority. Chuck Price turning innovation into traction. Hugh M. shaping financial discipline. Dayal Saran running research with biochemical precision. The board, including Marc Doyle, Michael Silvestro, Dean Gehring and Thomas Bostick, adds perspectives forged in mining, national security, biotechnology and global operations. What makes this raise compelling isn’t the capital but the alignment. As critical mineral demand accelerates and #PFAS remediation becomes unavoidable, the market is rewarding companies that see constraint as catalyst. Allonnia is proving biology can clean, separate and recover with a grace industrial methods have chased for decades. If this is what $100M+ of conviction looks like, the next chapter won’t just be watched it’ll be studied. #Startups #StartupFunding #VentureCapital #SeriesA #Biotech #EnvironmentalTech #ClimateTech #CleanTech #Technology #Innovation #TechEcosystem #StartupEcosystem

New filtration technology could be gamechanger in removal of Pfas ‘forever chemicals’ New filtration technology developed by Rice University may absorb some Pfas “forever chemicals” at 100 times the rate previously possible, which could dramatically improve pollution control and speed remediations. Researchers also say they have also found a way to destroy Pfas, though both technologies face a steep challenge in being deployed on an industrial scale. A new peer-reviewed paper details a layered double hydroxide (LDH) material made from copper and aluminum that absorbs long-chain Pfas up to 100 times faster than commonly used filtration systems. Source in comments.

💡 $0.004 per cubic metre. This is the new benchmark for commercial-scale PFAS destruction. Claros Technologies has successfully demonstrated its UV destruction system on highly turbid groundwater concentrate at a Minnesota site. Processing concentrate derived from over 2.27 million litres of water, the system achieved greater than 99.99% destruction of PFOS and PFOA in four hours. Under the PFAS NEMP 3.0, Australian regulators are prioritising permanent destruction over traditional containment or granular activated carbon. The historical barrier to on-site destruction has been the energy cost of scaling these technologies for large groundwater plumes. At a treatment cost of roughly half a cent per cubic metre, UV-based destruction paired with foam fractionation is a viable alternative to incineration or off-site disposal. Consultants and auditors designing long-term pump-and-treat systems should consider how this technology reduces ongoing liability and lifecycle costs for clients managing complex contamination. Is your current remediation strategy factoring in the falling cost of on-site destruction? This is an @iEnvi Machete news summary. Full summary and source references at the link below. https://lnkd.in/g78jtG99 For expert environmental advice: www.ienvi.com.au | info@ienvi.com.au #iEnvi #PFAS #ContaminatedLand #Remediation #Groundwater #EnvironmentalConsulting

Excited to share a new publication from our group on "PFAS removal", led by our Jasneet Pala and Vishwesh Dutt Awasthi (PhD), in collaboration with Kiandokht Pakravan (Auburn University) and Majid Beidaghi (University of Arizona) focusing on the functionalization of MXene nanosheets for enhanced and faster PFOS adsorption. (https://lnkd.in/eyJzHuq4) In this work, F-MXene was prepared using an HF/HCl etching method, resulting in a high fluorine content (∼40% more than O-MXene), while O-MXene was synthesized via a LiF/HCl method, leading to higher oxygen content. The performance results indicated that at a PFOS concentration of 50 ppb under acidic conditions, both MXenes exhibited similar adsorption capacities (92.6 ± 7.9% for F-MXene and 88.5 ± 5.6% for O-MXene) despite their differing surface chemistries, likely due to the sufficient number of active sites available at lower concentrations. However, at higher PFOS concentrations, 2 ppm, F-MXene significantly out- performed O-MXene (69.8 ± 15% vs 27.6 ± 15%), likely due to enhanced fluorophilic interactions (an increased number of fluorine groups increased fluorine−fluorine interactions), hydrophobic effects, and hydrogen bonding. https://lnkd.in/eyJzHuq4 Thanks, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs for the support. University of Alabama Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering UA Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering The University of Alabama Alabama Water Institute #PFAS #MXene #WaterTreatment #EnvironmentalEngineering #MaterialsScience #ChemicalEngineering

Exciting update from Rice University in Texas! Researchers have unveiled a cutting-edge technology with the potential to transform environmental cleanup endeavors. Through the utilization of flash joule heating (FJH), a rapid heating method, they have devised a way to upcycle granular activated carbon (GAC) typically used in PFAS water filtration. This groundbreaking technique not only aids in environmental preservation but also offsets some of the cleanup expenses. By conducting computer simulations and laboratory trials, the team illustrated that subjecting PFAS to extreme temperatures exceeding 3,000 °C (5,432 °F) can efficiently disintegrate the harmful compounds. Through the incorporation of sodium and calcium salts as mineralizing agents, useful salts such as sodium fluoride and calcium fluoride salts are formed as a byproduct. https://lnkd.in/dJXSQHqf