Researchers at the University of Queensland (UQ) have developed a new technology that can remove synthetic forever chemicals from water, which can then be used in clean energy technology such as renewable batteries.
Researchers at UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology have made a filter that quickly and cleanly captures harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
The filter contains a patented sorbent solution that uses an ion-exchange technique to isolate and remove the PFAS particles as the water passes through it.
UQ polymer chemist, Cheng Zhang, said that fluorine-based materials can be harvested from the filter, and he is working on using them to improve clean energy technology.
“People are increasingly aware of the risks that PFAS poses to human health, and how long these chemicals persist in the natural environment,” Dr Zhang said.
“Not only does our filter technology remove harmful particles from water, those captured chemicals are available to be repurposed to help decarbonise the planet.
“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.
“Recycled PFAS has excellent properties for this purpose.”
Dr Zhang and UQ Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology Professor, Jianhua Guo, have successfully tested a prototype of the PFAS filter in a laboratory and will commence pilot testing in Brisbane and the US with $1 million backing from the Advance Queensland Industry Research Projects program.
UQ said that testing is being planned for a range of sites including the Luggage Point Sewage Treatment Plant with water management company GHD, project management firm OCTA, and the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation.
In the second year of the project, an additional pilot site is expected to be established to scale up testing.
“These demonstrations will be pivotal to scaling up our filter technology for use in industrial water infrastructure,” Dr Zhang said.
“If this testing goes as we believe it will, we hope to reach commercial production within three years.”
Featured image: Researchers have developed a filter which quickly and cleanly captures and removes harmful PFAS from water. Image credit: The University of Queensland.
