FOREVER CHEMICALS

Scientists invent filter that can recycle PFAS into renewable batteries

By Kenji Sato
ABC Radio Brisbane
TODAY


Cheng Zhang says the filter is more effective at absorbing PFAS than anything else on the market. (Supplied: University of Queensland)

In short:

Researchers have invented a filter that removes harmful PFAS chemicals from water and recycles them in renewable batteries.

University of Queensland scientists say they believe the technology will be on the market in three years.

What's next?

The filters will be trialled at a Brisbane wastewater treatment plant before being expanded to other sites.

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Scientists have invented a filter that can remove harmful "forever chemicals" from drinking water and use it in renewable batteries.

The University of Queensland's invention can extract polyfluroaklyl (PFAS) compounds, which are notoriously difficult to remove from the environment or human bodies.

Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology polymer chemist Cheng Zhang said the filter used their new sorbent solution and an ion-exchange technique.

He said this was over five times more effective than any existing technology on the market.


Researchers say this patented sorbent is several times more effective than existing technology. (Supplied: University of Queensland)

'Confident' technology will be ready in three years

Dr Zheng said it was capable of reducing PFAS levels to "basically non-detectable" levels in drinking water, far below EPA safe drinking guidelines.

Additionally, he said the filter could treat contaminated landfill leachate — previously not possible with commercially available technology.

Dr Zheng said the institute had received its patent and was confident the technology would be ready for commercial production in three years.

Cheng Zhang says these renewable batteries were the first to harness filtered PFAS compounds. (Supplied: University of Queensland)

"What we're trying to do now is either license the technology or create a start-up company," Dr Zheng said.

"The final goal for us is to further commercialise our technology and make it useful to solve real world problems and make a PFAS-free world.

"Not only does our filter technology remove harmful particles from water, those captured chemicals are available to be repurposed to help decarbonise the planet."
Testing at wastewater treatment plant

The technology will be tested at Brisbane's Luggage Point Wastewater Treatment Plant, one of the largest recycled water facilities in the world.

Dr Zheng said in the coming years they would expand to other trial sites, which were yet to be locked in.

The Luggage Point Wastewater Treatment Plant is one of the world's largest recycled water facilities. (ABC News: Jessica Rendall)

Dr Zheng said they were looking at trialling landfill sites as well as working with companies that dealt with contaminated compost leachate.
New renewable battery technology

He said their renewable batteries were the first in the world to use PFAS compounds in this way.

"The increasing demand for high-performance rechargeable batteries means manufacturers are constantly searching for new materials that improve the energy density, safety and cycling stability of batteries," he said.

"Recycled PFAS has excellent properties for this purpose."

The PFAS filter pilot testing program has received $1 million in state grants from the Advance Queensland Industry Research Projects program.

Cheng Zhang says this PFAS is now being used to help the planet, instead of harming it. (Supplied: University of Queensland)

PFAS detected in drinking water

A recent University of New South Wales study found PFAS was far more widespread than previously believed.

Civil and environmental engineering professor Denis O'Carroll said he was "surprised" to discover that a small part of the Sydney Water Catchment in the Blue Mountains had levels above safe drinking standards.
Cancer-linked PFAS detected in Sydney drinking water samples

Photo shows Warragamba Dam reached capacity on Saturday May 11 and began spilling on Sunday 12 for the second time this year

Perfluorinated chemicals, considered unsafe in drinking water by the US, have been detected at water filtration plants across Sydney.

He said water providers such as Sydney Water did not routinely measure the broad range of PFAS compounds in drinking water.

Dr O'Carroll said much more research was needed to understand how widespread and damaging PFAS was on the environment.

"We need to look at the human health and ecosystem impacts of PFAS that we've put into the environment," Professor O'Carroll said.

"PFAS is one example, but there are a range of chemicals we put out into the environment every day so we need to have a broad consideration as a society."