Iron Powder Purifies Water Better Than Activated Carbon

PFOS, short for perfluorooctane sulfonate or perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, has been the focus of a recent study featured in the American Chemical Society's publication, Environmental Science & Technology.

Xiaoguang Meng, a professor at the institute's Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering, emphasized the capabilities of iron powder and wanted to compare its adsorption potency with activated carbon:

"Iron powder is commonly used for water treatment and wastewater treatment, because it's cheap — it's cheaper than activated carbon."

Meng, together with fellow professor Christos Christodoulatos and Ph.D student Meng Ji, discovered that iron powder performed better and is 26 times more effective than activated carbon in removing PFOS from water.

Besides better efficacy, the study also revealed that iron powder retains its adsorption properties even after rusting in water. Meng emphasized:

"The particles' surface is covered by iron oxide, but it's still very active."

Given the surprising results of the study, the team plans to investigate further the potential of iron powder for large-scale water purification.

Part of the larger class of man-made chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, PFOS has been known for aggravating liver disease, immune system disorders, and cancer. They are commonly used for commercial applications and are now found in drinking water sources.

Read the full article here to learn more about the adsorption potency of iron powder.

Need ultra-pure water for critical applications? Aqua Solutions offers cutting-edge water purification systems to meet your standards. Browse your options at https://www.aquaa.com/.