Researchers Find New Method to Degrade PFAS in Laboratory Setting

A team from UNSW Sydney’s School of Chemistry — led by Dr. Jun Sun and professor Naresh Kumar — has developed a new catalyst system for breaking down branched PFAS. The team collaborated with professors Denis O’Carroll, Michael Manefield, and Dr. Matthew Lee from the UNSW School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The catalyst system designed by the researchers offers a robust, simple and cost-effective solution for PFAS remediation, successfully demonstrated in laboratory tests.PFAS, characterized by their strong carbon-fluoride bonds, are difficult to degrade. Traditional methods like absorption onto activated carbon require burning or storing the carbon material, which is inefficient