Abstract
A fluorinated gel can capture a larger proportion of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from contaminated water than available techniques (ACS Cent. Sci. 2020, DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.9b01224). Frank Leibfarth and Orlando Coronell of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and colleagues created a fluorogel resin with chemical properties similar to those of the “forever chemicals” they wanted to ensnare. PFAS contain a fluorinated carbon chain with a negatively charged end group; to complement this chemistry, the researchers created a material with a fluorinated polymeric backbone and positively charged components. The material captured more than 80% of PFAS from settled water collected from a treatment plant, demonstrating that the gel absorbed PFAS specifically and did not become clogged by other chemicals or particulate matter in the mix. This issue has been a shortcoming of other capture materials, since PFAS are present at much lower concentrations than other wastewater components. The
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
