Breaking Down "Forever Chemicals" – With a Side of Graphene!
🔥 Scientists may have finally found how to destroy Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (those notorious "forever chemicals")—by superheating them to 3,000°C+ (5,432°F)!
How it works:
✔ Flash Joule Heating vaporizes PFAS trapped in water filters
✔ 99.98% destroyed—converted into harmless fluoride salts
✔ Bonus: Leftover carbon becomes valuable graphene
💡 "We’re turning hazardous waste into a resource," says Rice University chemist James Tour.
Why this matters:
🌍 PFAS are everywhere—linked to health risks, yet vital for waterproof/heatproof products
💰 Method is cheaper & scalable vs. current cleanup options
"A game-changer for water safety," says lead researcher Phelecia Scotland.
#ScienceNews #CleanTech #EnvironmentalHealth
Reference:
Scotland, P., Wyss, K.M., Cheng, Y. et al. Mineralization of captured perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid at zero net cost using flash Joule heating. Nat Water (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-025-00404-z
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