Forever Chemicals – Scientists Develeped A New Technique To Destroy Them Safely
Forever chemicals found in everyday objects such as nonstick cookware have long been connected to major health problems because of their toxicity and strong resistance to breakdown as waste products. Scientists have created a novel technique that breaks down two key types of dangerous "forever chemicals," leaving only benign end products.
Author:Suleman ShahReviewer:Han JuAug 19, 20224 Shares295 Views
Scientists have created a novel technique that breaks down two critical types of dangerous "forever chemicals," leaving only benign end products.
What Are "Forever Chemicals"?
"Forever chemicals" found in everyday objects such as nonstick cookware have long been connected to significant healthproblems because of their toxicity and strong resistance to breakdown as waste products.
They run through our kitchen faucets, are buried in our soil, and are embedded in the food we consume daily.
Everywhere you turn, we're being suffocated by so-called everlasting chemicals, or PFAS (per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances).
These compounds were created in the 1940s to make lifesimpler by producing nonstick cookware, waterproof clothes, and stain-resistant furniture.
However, the same challenging chemistry that enabled these accomplishments also made the spontaneous decomposition of these substances incredibly impossible.
Worse, research conducted in the decades after the introduction of PFAS into our everyday lives has shown that even low-level exposure to the chemicals over a long time may result in significant health impacts such as thyroid illness, decreased immunological response, and numerous malignancies.
How To Destroy "Forever Chemicals" Safely
Although PFAS chemicals may be removed from water by filtering, there are few viable options for disposing of them after they have been removed.
Current approaches for destroying PFAS entail harsh treatments such as cremation at very high temperatures or ultrasonic wave irradiation.
Other methods for removing these chemicals, such as incineration, may be harsh and cost a lot of energy.
A team of researchers discovered a novel approach to disposing of these compounds under relatively benign settings.
One of the fantastic features of this finding is that it leaves no harmful products in its wake.
Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles, studied the chemical breakdown of polyfungal organic compounds (PFCAs) after exposure to solvents called DMSO and lye.
They found that a secondary solvent, sodium hydroxide or lye, aided in the completion of the process by decomposing secondary chemicals into non-harmful organic molecules.
It's unclear if additional PFCAs will have comparable degradation routes, but researchers are attempting to figure out what those distinctions could be.
Final Words
For the time being, this strategy to destroy "forever chemicals" is not yet ready to be used globally.
Still, the researchers said that when the time comes, it will most likely be part of a joint approach to degrading PFAS that begins with collecting them in a concentrated number before applying their solvents.
Whatever role this technologyeventually plays in PFAS elimination, Dichtel says he's delighted to contribute to fixing such a critical issue.
Suleman Shah
Author
Suleman Shah is a researcher and freelance writer. As a researcher, he has worked with MNS University of Agriculture, Multan (Pakistan) and Texas A & M University (USA). He regularly writes science articles and blogs for science news website immersse.com and open access publishers OA Publishing London and Scientific Times. He loves to keep himself updated on scientific developments and convert these developments into everyday language to update the readers about the developments in the scientific era. His primary research focus is Plant sciences, and he contributed to this field by publishing his research in scientific journals and presenting his work at many Conferences.
Shah graduated from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (Pakistan) and started his professional carrier with Jaffer Agro Services and later with the Agriculture Department of the Government of Pakistan. His research interest compelled and attracted him to proceed with his carrier in Plant sciences research. So, he started his Ph.D. in Soil Science at MNS University of Agriculture Multan (Pakistan). Later, he started working as a visiting scholar with Texas A&M University (USA).
Shah’s experience with big Open Excess publishers like Springers, Frontiers, MDPI, etc., testified to his belief in Open Access as a barrier-removing mechanism between researchers and the readers of their research. Shah believes that Open Access is revolutionizing the publication process and benefitting research in all fields.
Han Ju
Reviewer
Hello! I'm Han Ju, the heart behind World Wide Journals. My life is a unique tapestry woven from the threads of news, spirituality, and science, enriched by melodies from my guitar. Raised amidst tales of the ancient and the arcane, I developed a keen eye for the stories that truly matter. Through my work, I seek to bridge the seen with the unseen, marrying the rigor of science with the depth of spirituality.
Each article at World Wide Journals is a piece of this ongoing quest, blending analysis with personal reflection. Whether exploring quantum frontiers or strumming chords under the stars, my aim is to inspire and provoke thought, inviting you into a world where every discovery is a note in the grand symphony of existence.
Welcome aboard this journey of insight and exploration, where curiosity leads and music guides.
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