The UBC system combines an activated carbon filter with a special, patented catalyst that traps harmful chemicals and breaks them down into harmless components on the filter material.
The UBC system combines an activated carbon filter with a special, patented catalyst that traps harmful chemicals and breaks them down into harmless components on the filter material.
Chemical engineers at the University of British Columbia have developed a new treatment that traps and treats PFAS substances—widely known as “forever chemicals”—in a single, integrated system.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in manufacturing consumer goods like waterproof clothing due to their resistance to heat, water and stains. However, they are also pollutants, often ending up in surface and groundwater worldwide, where they have been linked to cancer, liver damage and other health issues.
“PFAS are notoriously difficult to break down, whether they’re in the environment or in the human body,” explained lead researcher Dr. Johan Foster, an associate professor of chemical and biological engineering in the faculty of applied science. “Our system will make it possible to remove and destroy these substances in the water supply before they can harm our health.”
Read more at University of British Columbia
Image: Pictured: UBC chemical engineering student researcher Pani Rostami. Credit: UBC Applied Science/Paul Joseph
