Mon, 18 Aug 2025

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 How to destroy harmful 'forever chemicals'

PFAS were once prized for their durability, but now firms are developing ways to destroy them.
New technologies are emerging that can destroy PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances), also known as "forever chemicals", which have been linked to health issues such as cancer and reproductive problems. These man-made chemicals are found in various products, including waterproof clothing, non-stick pans, and food packaging. Companies like Cleantech Group and Axine Water Technologies are developing electrochemical oxidation (EO) technology, which uses electrodes to break down PFAS molecules. Another technology, Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO), involves heating water to a high degree to destroy the carbon-fluorine bonds in PFAS. These technologies are being tested in pilot projects with potential customers including industrial manufacturers and municipal wastewater treatment plants. The US military is also partnering with companies like 374Water to develop solutions for destroying PFAS at contaminated sites. However, there are concerns about the potential byproducts of these destruction processes, which could be just as toxic as the original PFAS chemicals. Companies are working on addressing these issues and scaling up their technologies to meet growing demand. The market opportunity for PFAS destruction is expected to grow, driven in part by regulatory pressure and legal risk. In the US, thousands of lawsuits have been filed against companies that used PFAS, and regulation is tightening worldwide. Funding has been provided for water companies in the UK to explore PFAS destruction technologies, with Severn Trent Water leading a project to examine potential suppliers and technologies. The City of Orlando in Florida is also testing 374Water's SCWO technology at its largest wastewater treatment plant.
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