Rice University's Breakthrough in Filtering 'Forever Chemicals'
A new filtration technology developed by researchers at Rice University may revolutionize the way "forever chemicals" are removed from contaminated water. The innovation, which uses a layered double hydroxide (LDH) material made from copper and aluminum, can absorb long-chain Pfas up to 100 times faster than existing filtration systems.
This breakthrough is significant because Pfas, also known as "forever chemicals," do not naturally break down in the environment and are linked to serious health problems such as cancer, kidney disease, liver issues, immune disorders, and birth defects. Current filtration technology like granular activated carbon, reverse osmosis, or ion exchange can only remove Pfas from water but requires hazardous waste storage or thermal destruction, which produces toxic byproducts.
The Rice University material works differently, soaking up and concentrating Pfas at high levels, allowing for their destruction without high temperatures. By replacing aluminum atoms with copper atoms in the LDH material, researchers created a positively charged surface that attracts and absorbs negatively charged long-chain Pfas.
According to Dr. Michael Wong, director of Rice's Water Institute, the new technology can absorb Pfas "in the order of 100 times faster" than other materials, making it a promising solution for pollution control and speeding up remediations. The process also appears to break the strong carbon-fluorine bonds that make Pfas virtually indestructible.
While this innovation shows promise, challenges remain in deploying these technologies on an industrial scale. Dr. Laura Orlando, a researcher with Just Zero and civil engineer specializing in waste management design, notes that occupational safety, regulations, and permitting are crucial factors to consider.
For now, the potential of Rice University's technology is significant, offering a new hope for tackling one of the world's most pressing environmental issues. As the world continues to grapple with the impact of Pfas on human health and the environment, innovations like this may prove essential in finding solutions to this complex problem.
A new filtration technology developed by researchers at Rice University may revolutionize the way "forever chemicals" are removed from contaminated water. The innovation, which uses a layered double hydroxide (LDH) material made from copper and aluminum, can absorb long-chain Pfas up to 100 times faster than existing filtration systems.
This breakthrough is significant because Pfas, also known as "forever chemicals," do not naturally break down in the environment and are linked to serious health problems such as cancer, kidney disease, liver issues, immune disorders, and birth defects. Current filtration technology like granular activated carbon, reverse osmosis, or ion exchange can only remove Pfas from water but requires hazardous waste storage or thermal destruction, which produces toxic byproducts.
The Rice University material works differently, soaking up and concentrating Pfas at high levels, allowing for their destruction without high temperatures. By replacing aluminum atoms with copper atoms in the LDH material, researchers created a positively charged surface that attracts and absorbs negatively charged long-chain Pfas.
According to Dr. Michael Wong, director of Rice's Water Institute, the new technology can absorb Pfas "in the order of 100 times faster" than other materials, making it a promising solution for pollution control and speeding up remediations. The process also appears to break the strong carbon-fluorine bonds that make Pfas virtually indestructible.
While this innovation shows promise, challenges remain in deploying these technologies on an industrial scale. Dr. Laura Orlando, a researcher with Just Zero and civil engineer specializing in waste management design, notes that occupational safety, regulations, and permitting are crucial factors to consider.
For now, the potential of Rice University's technology is significant, offering a new hope for tackling one of the world's most pressing environmental issues. As the world continues to grapple with the impact of Pfas on human health and the environment, innovations like this may prove essential in finding solutions to this complex problem.
! It's about time we found a way to tackle these forever chemicals - it's crazy that they don't break down naturally in our environment. I mean, who wants to drink water with all these nasty chemicals in it? 
The fact that this new material can absorb Pfas so much faster than existing tech is huge 
. And the best part? No need for hazardous waste storage or toxic byproducts - that's a total win! 
We gotta get this tech out there ASAP and make a difference. It's gonna be tough to scale it up, but if anyone can do it, Rice University's got the brains 
. Now let's hope our governments and corporations step up their game and start prioritizing pollution control 
i mean, who needs all that dairy when you can just blend up some oats or almonds right? anyway, back to these forever chemicals... isn't it crazy how something so tiny can cause such big problems in the environment? my sister's a big fan of water filtration systems and she's always talking about the importance of staying hydrated 
. And the best part? This tech doesn't require high temperatures or hazardous waste storage, so it's actually safer for us and the environment 
. I'm not gonna lie, this gives me hope that maybe we can finally tackle these environmental issues and make our water sources safe again 
we should also be looking into alternative methods like bioremediation or community-led cleanups... or is this tech a step in that direction?
It's crazy that current filtration systems just kind of... exist without being able to get rid of them properly.
I'm excited to see if this tech can be scaled up for industrial use and make a real difference in pollution control.
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. It's a game-changer. And the fact that it doesn't require high temperatures or hazardous waste storage is even better 
up to 100 times faster than existing systems. copper & aluminum combo is the magic behind it 
but we gotta remember there's still a long way to go in terms of scalability & safety protocols 
stats say: average cost of pfas removal: $1500-$3000 per gallon 
2025 should be all about innovation & sustainability 
what do u think? 
but yeah, industrial scale deployment is gonna be super important to consider. gotta keep safety and regulations in check. fingers crossed this tech becomes a game changer for us! 
. When will something actually get done about it? And what's with all the hype around this new filter tech? Is it really going to solve everything or is it just another Band-Aid solution? 
they're just chemicals that can't break down in nature, it's not like we didn't know they were bad for us before 
anyway, rice uni's tech is a big deal i guess 
but now there's hope 
and destroy them without heating things up 
100 times faster than old methods 
just imagine all the good we could do 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to help clean up our water sources? 
. Of course, there are still some challenges to overcome, but this tech has the potential to make a huge difference 
. And copper is used? Who knew that was a thing?! But for real though, these "forever chemicals" are super scary and we need to get rid of them ASAP! Our water supply can't be trusted if the government's letting PFAS just sit there... I mean, what's the point of even having regulations if nobody's enforcing it?