PFAS
-
Environment
PFAS: The next asbestos?
A type of PFA, a 3D chemical structure of PFOS. Credit: Martin Kirk Some of the most remote and inaccessible regions on the planet have traces of humanity. Mariana trenches have plastic. Mount Everest looks like a garbage dump. And the Arctic Ocean is full of “eternal chemicals,” known as PFA. One person and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) are a group…
Read More » -
Chemistry
Scientists identify 11 genes affected by PFAS, shedding light on neurotoxicity
Research led by the labs of University at Buffalo chemistry professors G. Ekin Atilla-Gokcumen and Diana Aga reveals molecular insights into the neurotoxic effects of perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, better known as eternal chemicals. Some clues have been revealed. Credit: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki / University at Buffalo Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) persist in water, soil, and even…
Read More » -
Science
Organosilicon chemistry offers an alternative to PFAS in the food and medical industry
Many medical products require hydrophobic coatings to prevent cell adhesion or to optimize sliding and frictional properties. Fraunhofer IFAM has developed a fluorine-free coating that mimics the properties of previously available fluoropolymers, as demonstrated by hydrophobic coatings on synthetic nonwovens. Credit: Fraunhofer IFAM Due to the unique properties of PFAS, few chemicals can compete with them. This is why it…
Read More » -
Environment
Analysis shows no significant PFAS emissions under approved waste incineration conditions
Credit: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Fluoropolymers have become an integral part of modern society, both in industrial and consumer applications. At the end of their useful life, these high-performance materials can become both industrial and domestic waste. Researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), in collaboration with international partners, analyzed the contribution of fluoropolymer waste incineration to the release of…
Read More » -
Chemistry
Innovative method aims to remove PFAS from wastewater
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Researchers at Oxford Brookes University have developed an innovative way to tackle one of the world’s most persistent environmental threats: toxic chemicals in the world’s water supplies. They developed a new machine called a hydrodynamic reactor that uses gas bubbles that form and collapse due to changes in pressure, a process called cavitation. This reactor removes…
Read More »
