New Photochemical Treatment Destroys PFAS

A new study shows that mixing iodide with ultraviolet (UV) light and sulfite in a water treatment reactor destroys 90 percent of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) within a few hours. Not only does iodide speed up the photochemical reaction by up to four times, but it also destroys even stubborn structures.

Environmental engineering researchers at the University of California Riverside prove that iodide in the UV/sulfite system effectively treats the resistive four-carbon PFAS molecule known as perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS). Likewise, this photochemical treatment is sufficient against other PFAS like the eight-carbon PFOA and PFO.

The UC Riverside researchers also demonstrated iodide’s capabilities to aid UV light and sulfite in destroying concentrated PFAS in a brine solution, which is promising for groundwater remediation.

Photochemical degradation by UV light and sulfite is effective in breaking PFAS down. This process, however, takes more time and consumes high amounts of electricity. It also poses possible health risks since it leaves multiple carbon-fluorine bonds in the degradation products.

Read the full article here to learn more about this new photochemical treatment.

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