Yale researchers propose new method to remove PFAS chemicals

A doctoral thesis from Yale University proposes a new chemical method to address the persistence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as ‘forever chemicals.’ Because the carbon-fluorine bonds in these substances are exceptionally stable, they are difficult to remove from the environment.

The proposed method, developed by Susanna Maisto, involves reacting certain perfluorocarboxylic PFAS compounds with octanol through an esterification reaction. This process approximately doubles the size of the molecule, making it insoluble in water. By making the molecules less soluble, they can be more easily separated and subsequently destroyed in concentrated waste streams.

To facilitate this reaction in an aqueous medium, the method utilizes emulsions that form micro-droplets. These droplets act as dispersed micro-reactors, allowing the PFAS and octanol to come into contact in a way that would be unlikely in open water.