#PFAS remediation

[wausaupilot]

UWSP faculty awarded grant for soils research

The group’s proposal, Phytoremediation of PFAS in Wisconsin Soils using Hemp and Alfalfa, was funded $175,000, to be split between two years from January 2024 through December 2025.

STEVENS POINT – Five faculty members at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and a collaborator at UW-Madison were awarded one of three 2023 Universities of Wisconsin Innovation Grants for research on phytoremediation, the removal of synthetic materials from soil using living plants, UWSP announced today. The group’s proposal, Phytoremediation of PFAS in Wisconsin Soils using Hemp and…

[norfloxacin1]

"Forever chemicals" might not be forever after all!  Discover a groundbreaking new technology that can break down PFAS pollution using light and special catalysts.

[justinrichter]

PFAS Remediation Solutions

Protect your environment and health with advanced PFAS remediation solutions effectively removing harmful contaminants from water and soil. Get your eye on the image for effective remediation solutions.

[percasolutions]

Perca is dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture through innovative practices, focusing on the benefits of composting with Eisenia fetida. These red wiggler worms are highly effective in breaking down organic matter, resulting in nutrient-rich vermicompost that enhances soil health and fertility. Perca offers resources and solutions for both home gardeners and commercial growers, emphasizing the importance of using Eisenia fetida for sustainable farming. By integrating these worms into composting systems, Perca aims to reduce waste and improve agricultural productivity, contributing to a greener future.

[carbonxtgroupblog]

Carbonxt Group Reports 19% Revenue Surge and Secures Major Contracts in June Quarter

Carbonxt Group Limited (ASX: CG1) (Carbonxt or the Company) has reported a strong performance for the June 2024 quarter, marked by a 19% revenue increase and significant contract wins. The company’s new Kentucky facility, operated by NewCarbon Processing, LLC, is nearing completion.

Carbonxt remains focused on driving operational cash flow from both current and upcoming facilities. With this expansion, the company aims to improve manufacturing cost efficiencies, which is expected to boost margins and enhance overall growth.

[mindblowingscience]

Scientists from the University of Rochester have developed new electrochemical approaches to clean up pollution from "forever chemicals" found in clothing, food packaging, firefighting foams, and a wide array of other products. A new Journal of Catalysis study describes nanocatalysts developed to remediate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS. The researchers, led by assistant professor of chemical engineering Astrid Müller, focused on a specific type of PFAS called Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), which was once widely used for stain-resistant products but is now banned in much of the world for its harm to human and animal health. PFOS is still widespread and persistent in the environment despite being phased out by US manufacturers in the early 2000s, continuing to show up in water supplies.

Continue Reading.

[gottalottarocks]

It’s quite exciting to be working in environmental remediation when the EPA has just set maximum contaminant levels for these 6 PFAS compounds, which is the first time they’ve set new MCLs in quite a while. So I’ve been in a million meetings mentioning PFAS and “PFAS has taken over LinkedIn feeds!!!” was an actual bullet point in a PowerPoint today

[reasoningdaily]

The Associated Press: 22 attorneys general oppose 3M settlement over water systems contamination with 'forever chemicals'

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Twenty-two attorneys general urged a federal court Wednesday to reject a proposed $10.3 billion settlement over contamination of U.S. public drinking water systems with potentially dangerous chemicals, saying it lets manufacturer 3M Co. off too easily.

The deal announced in June doesn’t give individual water suppliers enough time to determine how much money they would get and whether it would cover their costs of removing the compounds known collectively as PFAS, said the officials with 19 states, Washington, D.C., and two territories. In some cases the agreement could shift liability from the company to providers, they said.

“While I appreciate the effort that went into it, the proposed settlement in its current form does not adequately account for the pernicious damage that 3M has done in so many of our communities,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta, leader of the multistate coalition.

3M spokesman Sean Lynch said the agreement “will benefit U.S.-based public water systems nationwide that provide drinking water to a vast majority of Americans” without further litigation.

“It is not unusual for there to be objections regarding significant settlement agreements,” Lynch said. “We will continue to work cooperatively to address questions about the terms of the resolution.”

The company, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, manufactures per- and polyfluorinated substances — a broad class of chemicals used in nonstick, water- and grease-resistant products such as clothing and cookware, as well as some firefighting foams.

Described as “forever chemicals” because they don’t degrade naturally in the environment, PFAS have been linked to a variety of health problems, including liver and immune-system damage and some cancers.

3M has said it plans to stop making them by the end of 2025.

Some 300 communities have sued 3M and other companies over water pollution from the compounds. A number of states, airports, firefighter training facilities and private well owners also have pending cases.

They have been consolidated in U.S. District Court in Charleston, South Carolina, where the proposed settlement was filed last month.

Although the company put its value at $10.3 billion, an attorney for the water providers said it could reach as high as $12.5 billion, depending on how many detect PFAS during testing the Environmental Protection Agency has ordered over the next three years.

The law firm representing the water providers did not immediately respond Wednesday to messages seeking comment.

EPA in March proposed strict limits on two common types, PFOA and PFOS, and said it wanted to regulate four others.

In addition to California, states urging Judge Richard Gergel to reject the deal included Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin. Also opposed were Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands.

In a court filing, the attorneys general said it would force nearly all public water providers nationwide to participate unless they withdraw individually — even those that haven’t filed suits or tested for PFAS.

“Troublingly, they would have to make their opt-out decisions without knowing how much they would actually receive and, in many cases, before knowing the extent of contamination in their water supplies and the cost of remediating it,” the officials said in a statement.

A provision in the proposed deal would shift liability from 3M to water suppliers that don’t opt out, the statement said. That could enable the company to seek compensation from providers if sued over cancer or other illnesses in PFAS-affected communities, it said.

“As such, the proposed settlement is worth far less than the advertised $10.5 billion to $12.5 billion,” the attorneys general said.

The attorneys general did not take a position on a separate $1.18 billion deal to resolve PFAS complaints against DuPont de Nemours Inc. and spinoffs Chemours Co. and Corteva Inc.

[tsmom1219]

EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap: Three Years of Progress

Download the report. This report highlights significant accomplishments achieved under its PFAS Strategic Roadmap and aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s all of government strategy to protect communities from the impacts of forever chemicals. The report outlines key accomplishments under the Roadmap over the past year across three fronts– to restrict, remediate, and research PFAS – all…

[wausaupilot]

Toxic chemicals and cleanup efforts on next 'Route 51'

Tune in at 10 a.m. Jan. 26.

WAUSAU – Communities throughout Wisconsin are grappling with ways to deal with contaminated water and soil after new research that suggests PFAS, dioxin and other toxic chemicals can have significant implications on public health. As scientists continue to work toward a better understanding of the risks involved, regulators are monitoring cleanup efforts, which can be costly and difficult to…

[123567-9qaaq9]

The Fluorochemicals Market: Growth, Trends, and Opportunities Through 2024-2033

The Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Chemicals Market, focused on the development of fluorochemicals, is gaining attention due to increasing environmental concerns and regulatory changes. PFAS chemicals are valued for their durability and resistance, making them essential across various industrial applications.

The Fluorochemicals Market is projected to experience steady growth from 2024 to 2034, fueled by demand across industries such as automotive, electronics, and healthcare. Valued at $29,500.0 million in 2023, the market is expected to reach $51,727.5 million by 2034, with a CAGR of 5.19%. This growth is driven by the unique durability and heat resistance of fluorochemicals, which remain essential in various applications. However, rising regulatory and environmental concerns may drive innovation toward safer alternatives, shaping market trends. As industries seek sustainable solutions, the Fluorochemicals Market is set for stable expansion over the forecast period.

Market Growth

The Fluorochemicals Market is expanding as demand grows across automotive, electronics, and healthcare sectors, driven by the unique properties of fluorochemicals, including durability, heat resistance, and non-reactivity. These attributes make fluorochemicals indispensable in coatings, sealants, and electronic applications. However, environmental and regulatory scrutiny around PFAS and similar compounds are reshaping market dynamics, pushing companies toward safer, eco-friendly alternatives. Industries are increasingly prioritizing sustainable solutions without compromising performance, prompting innovation within the fluorochemicals space. As compliance and sustainability become central to business strategies, the market is positioned for steady advancement, with a focus on balanced growth amid regulatory changes. Request a free sample report of the Fluorochemicals Market

Key Technologies

·       Fluoropolymer Production: In the Fluorochemicals Market, modern fluoropolymers are recognized for their ability to withstand harsh temperatures and corrosive conditions. This toughness makes them indispensable in industrial applications like automotive and aerospace, where coatings, seals, and electrical insulation must be durable and work well.

·       Coatings and Foam Applications: In the Fluorochemicals Market, PFAS chemicals are used to create coatings and foams that are water, stain, and fire resistant. These qualities enable their widespread use in consumer goods, textiles, and industrial applications, improving product durability and safety in harsh environments.

·       Environmental Remediation: The Fluorochemicals Market is witnessing improvements in environmental remediation technology targeted at safely breaking down PFAS molecules. These innovative solutions address growing environmental concerns, promoting sustainable practices by decreasing PFAS effect and assisting with regulatory compliance across industries.

Download Complete TOC of the Fluorochemicals Market

Demand Drivers

·       Regulatory Compliance: Strict government rules are pushing the Fluorochemicals Market to safer alternatives. Industries are adopting fluorochemicals with lower environmental effect to satisfy compliance criteria, lowering hazardous emissions and promoting sustainable production methods, particularly as regulatory bodies impose stronger rules on PFAS and other compounds.

·       Growing Applications in Electronics: The Fluorochemicals Market is benefiting from increased demand for high-performance electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, where PFAS chemicals play an important role due to their stability and resilience. These features make fluorochemicals indispensable in the production of modern electronic components, ensuring longevity and efficiency in high-tech applications.

·       Increased Environmental consciousness: As environmental consciousness grows, companies in the Fluorochemicals Market are investing in sustainable fluorochemical solutions. Efforts to lessen the environmental impact of PFAS chemicals are consistent with corporate responsibility goals, which encourage innovation in eco-friendly alternatives and cleaner production processes to protect ecosystems.

Industrial Applications Driving Growth

Industrial applications are expected to drive growth in the Fluorochemicals Market, with coatings and electronics leading the way. The resilience and stability of PFAS chemicals make them excellent for use in demanding situations such as protective coatings and high-performance electronics. These applications benefit from PFAS compounds' resistance to heat, chemicals, and wear, which ensures long-term effectiveness. The growing use of fluorochemicals in industrial sectors emphasizes their importance in a variety of high-demand applications.

Get more market Insights on Advanced-materials-chemicals

Key Market Players

• 3M • AGC Inc. • Archroma • Arkema • BASF • Bayer AG • BIONA JERSÍN s.r.o. • The Chemours Company • DAIKIN INDUSTRIES Ltd. • DONGYUE GROUP • Honeywell International Inc. • Merck KGaA • Solvay

Conclusion

To summarize, the Fluorochemicals Market is expected to grow steadily, driven by advances in fluorochemical technology and a greater emphasis on regulatory compliance. As industries such as automotive, electronics, and healthcare continue to rely on fluorochemicals for their durability, stability, and distinct features, the market is evolving to meet new environmental criteria. Companies are investing in safer, environmentally friendly alternatives to existing PFAS compounds to meet regulatory requirements and raise environmental awareness. This trend toward sustainable production processes will encourage innovation and generate chances for growth, establishing the Fluorochemicals Market as an important contributor to industrial progress and environmental responsibility.

BIS Research, recognized as a best market research company, provides premium market intelligence reports on deep technologies poised to cause significant market disruption in the coming years.

At BIS Research, we focus exclusively on technologies related to precision medicine, medical devices, diagnostics, life sciences, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), big data analysis, blockchain technology, 3D printing, advanced materials and chemicals, agriculture and FoodTech, mobility, robotics and UAVs, and aerospace and defense, among others

[percasolutions]

PERCA specializes in vermiculture and organic waste management, with a strong focus on the cultivation of Eisenia fetida, commonly known as red wigglers. These worms are highly efficient in breaking down organic matter, converting it into nutrient-rich compost. PERCA promotes sustainable agriculture by offering solutions for waste reduction and soil enhancement through the use of Eisenia fetida. Their expertise in worm farming contributes to a greener environment by creating eco-friendly alternatives for organic waste disposal and improving soil health for better crop production.

[sunaleisocial]

New filtration material could remove long-lasting chemicals from water

New Post has been published on https://sunalei.org/news/new-filtration-material-could-remove-long-lasting-chemicals-from-water/

New filtration material could remove long-lasting chemicals from water

Water contamination by the chemicals used in today’s technology is a rapidly growing problem globally. A recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control found that 98 percent of people tested had detectable levels of PFAS, a family of particularly long-lasting compounds also known as “forever chemicals,” in their bloodstream.

A new filtration material developed by researchers at MIT might provide a nature-based solution to this stubborn contamination issue. The material, based on natural silk and cellulose, can remove a wide variety of these persistent chemicals as well as heavy metals. And, its antimicrobial properties can help keep the filters from fouling.

The findings are described in the journal ACS Nano, in a paper by MIT postdoc Yilin Zhang, professor of civil and environmental engineering Benedetto Marelli, and four others from MIT.

PFAS chemicals are present in a wide range of products, including cosmetics, food packaging, water-resistant clothing, firefighting foams, and antistick coating for cookware. A recent study identified 57,000 sites contaminated by these chemicals in the U.S. alone. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that PFAS remediation will cost $1.5 billion per year, in order to meet new regulations that call for limiting the compound to less than 7 parts per trillion in drinking water.

Contamination by PFAS and similar compounds “is actually a very big deal, and current solutions may only partially resolve this problem very efficiently or economically,” Zhang says. “That’s why we came up with this protein and cellulose-based, fully natural solution,” he says.

“We came to the project by chance,” Marelli notes. The initial technology that made the filtration material possible was developed by his group for a completely unrelated purpose — as a way to make a labelling system to counter the spread of counterfeit seeds, which are often of inferior quality. His team devised a way of processing silk proteins into uniform nanoscale crystals, or “nanofibrils,” through an environmentally benign, water-based drop-casting method at room temperature.

Zhang suggested that their new nanofibrillar material might be effective at filtering contaminants, but initial attempts with the silk nanofibrils alone didn’t work. The team decided to try adding another material: cellulose, which is abundantly available and can be obtained from agricultural wood pulp waste. The researchers used a self-assembly method in which the silk fibroin protein is suspended in water and then templated into nanofibrils by inserting “seeds” of cellulose nanocrystals. This causes the previously disordered silk molecules to line up together along the seeds, forming the basis of a hybrid material with distinct new properties.

By integrating cellulose into the silk-based fibrils that could be formed into a thin membrane, and then tuning the electrical charge of the cellulose, the researchers produced a material that was highly effective at removing contaminants in lab tests.

By integrating cellulose into the silk-based fibrils that could be formed into a thin membrane, and then tuning the electrical charge of the cellulose, the researchers produced a material that was highly effective at removing contaminants in lab tests. Pictured is an example of the filter.

Image: Courtesy of the researchers

Previous item Next item

The electrical charge of the cellulose, they found, also gave it strong antimicrobial properties. This is a significant advantage, since one of the primary causes of failure in filtration membranes is fouling by bacteria and fungi. The antimicrobial properties of this material should greatly reduce that fouling issue, the researchers say.

“These materials can really compete with the current standard materials in water filtration when it comes to extracting metal ions and these emerging contaminants, and they can also outperform some of them currently,” Marelli says. In lab tests, the materials were able to extract orders of magnitude more of the contaminants from water than the currently used standard materials, activated carbon or granular activated carbon.

While the new work serves as a proof of principle, Marelli says, the team plans to continue working on improving the material, especially in terms of durability and availability of source materials. While the silk proteins used can be available as a byproduct of the silk textile industry, if this material were to be scaled up to address the global needs for water filtration, the supply might be insufficient. Also, alternative protein materials may turn out to perform the same function at lower cost.

Initially, the material would likely be used as a point-of-use filter, something that could be attached to a kitchen faucet, Zhang says. Eventually, it could be scaled up to provide filtration for municipal water supplies, but only after testing demonstrates that this would not pose any risk of introducing any contamination into the water supply. But one big advantage of the material, he says, is that both the silk and the cellulose constituents are considered food-grade substances, so any contamination is unlikely.

“Most of the normal materials available today are focusing on one class of contaminants or solving single problems,” Zhang says. “I think we are among the first to address all of these simultaneously.”

“What I love about this approach is that it is using only naturally grown materials like silk and cellulose to fight pollution,” says Hannes Schniepp, professor of applied science at the College of William and Mary, who was not associated with this work. “In competing approaches, synthetic materials are used — which usually require only more chemistry to fight some of the adverse outcomes that chemistry has produced. [This work] breaks this cycle! … If this can be mass-produced in an economically viable way, this could really have a major impact.”

The research team included MIT postdocs Hui Sun and Meng Li, graduate student Maxwell Kalinowski, and recent graduate Yunteng Cao PhD ’22, now a postdoc at Yale University. The work was supported by the U.S. Office of Naval Research, the U.S. National Science Foundation, and the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology.

[jcmarchi]

New filtration material could remove long-lasting chemicals from water

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/new-filtration-material-could-remove-long-lasting-chemicals-from-water/

New filtration material could remove long-lasting chemicals from water

Water contamination by the chemicals used in today’s technology is a rapidly growing problem globally. A recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control found that 98 percent of people tested had detectable levels of PFAS, a family of particularly long-lasting compounds also known as “forever chemicals,” in their bloodstream.

A new filtration material developed by researchers at MIT might provide a nature-based solution to this stubborn contamination issue. The material, based on natural silk and cellulose, can remove a wide variety of these persistent chemicals as well as heavy metals. And, its antimicrobial properties can help keep the filters from fouling.

The findings are described in the journal ACS Nano, in a paper by MIT postdoc Yilin Zhang, professor of civil and environmental engineering Benedetto Marelli, and four others from MIT.

PFAS chemicals are present in a wide range of products, including cosmetics, food packaging, water-resistant clothing, firefighting foams, and antistick coating for cookware. A recent study identified 57,000 sites contaminated by these chemicals in the U.S. alone. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that PFAS remediation will cost $1.5 billion per year, in order to meet new regulations that call for limiting the compound to less than 7 parts per trillion in drinking water.

Contamination by PFAS and similar compounds “is actually a very big deal, and current solutions may only partially resolve this problem very efficiently or economically,” Zhang says. “That’s why we came up with this protein and cellulose-based, fully natural solution,” he says.

“We came to the project by chance,” Marelli notes. The initial technology that made the filtration material possible was developed by his group for a completely unrelated purpose — as a way to make a labelling system to counter the spread of counterfeit seeds, which are often of inferior quality. His team devised a way of processing silk proteins into uniform nanoscale crystals, or “nanofibrils,” through an environmentally benign, water-based drop-casting method at room temperature.

Zhang suggested that their new nanofibrillar material might be effective at filtering contaminants, but initial attempts with the silk nanofibrils alone didn’t work. The team decided to try adding another material: cellulose, which is abundantly available and can be obtained from agricultural wood pulp waste. The researchers used a self-assembly method in which the silk fibroin protein is suspended in water and then templated into nanofibrils by inserting “seeds” of cellulose nanocrystals. This causes the previously disordered silk molecules to line up together along the seeds, forming the basis of a hybrid material with distinct new properties.

By integrating cellulose into the silk-based fibrils that could be formed into a thin membrane, and then tuning the electrical charge of the cellulose, the researchers produced a material that was highly effective at removing contaminants in lab tests.

By integrating cellulose into the silk-based fibrils that could be formed into a thin membrane, and then tuning the electrical charge of the cellulose, the researchers produced a material that was highly effective at removing contaminants in lab tests. Pictured is an example of the filter.

Image: Courtesy of the researchers

Previous item Next item

The electrical charge of the cellulose, they found, also gave it strong antimicrobial properties. This is a significant advantage, since one of the primary causes of failure in filtration membranes is fouling by bacteria and fungi. The antimicrobial properties of this material should greatly reduce that fouling issue, the researchers say.

“These materials can really compete with the current standard materials in water filtration when it comes to extracting metal ions and these emerging contaminants, and they can also outperform some of them currently,” Marelli says. In lab tests, the materials were able to extract orders of magnitude more of the contaminants from water than the currently used standard materials, activated carbon or granular activated carbon.

While the new work serves as a proof of principle, Marelli says, the team plans to continue working on improving the material, especially in terms of durability and availability of source materials. While the silk proteins used can be available as a byproduct of the silk textile industry, if this material were to be scaled up to address the global needs for water filtration, the supply might be insufficient. Also, alternative protein materials may turn out to perform the same function at lower cost.

Initially, the material would likely be used as a point-of-use filter, something that could be attached to a kitchen faucet, Zhang says. Eventually, it could be scaled up to provide filtration for municipal water supplies, but only after testing demonstrates that this would not pose any risk of introducing any contamination into the water supply. But one big advantage of the material, he says, is that both the silk and the cellulose constituents are considered food-grade substances, so any contamination is unlikely.

“Most of the normal materials available today are focusing on one class of contaminants or solving single problems,” Zhang says. “I think we are among the first to address all of these simultaneously.”

“What I love about this approach is that it is using only naturally grown materials like silk and cellulose to fight pollution,” says Hannes Schniepp, professor of applied science at the College of William and Mary, who was not associated with this work. “In competing approaches, synthetic materials are used — which usually require only more chemistry to fight some of the adverse outcomes that chemistry has produced. [This work] breaks this cycle! … If this can be mass-produced in an economically viable way, this could really have a major impact.”

The research team included MIT postdocs Hui Sun and Meng Li, graduate student Maxwell Kalinowski, and recent graduate Yunteng Cao PhD ’22, now a postdoc at Yale University. The work was supported by the U.S. Office of Naval Research, the U.S. National Science Foundation, and the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology.