“Forever” PFAS Plastic Cleaned Up With Sunlight

Scientists at the University of Adelaide have created a special material, activated by sunlight, that can completely degrade the “forever chemical” PFAS.

Researchers at the University of Adelaide, Australia, have successfully developed a special material that can use sunlight to completely decompose toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” in water, turning them into harmless fluoride.

PFAS plastics can persist in the environment and human bodies, accumulating through water, soil and food, posing many risks to health and the ecosystem.

This is considered an important step forward in efforts to address PFAS contamination – a group of synthetic chemicals that are widely present in life but are extremely difficult to decompose, causing many serious risks to human health and the environment. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are often found in non-stick products, firefighting foams and waterproof fabrics. They are persistent, accumulate in the environment and the body, and are linked to cancer, infertility, developmental disorders and many other health problems. In Australia, statistics show that more than 85% of the population carries PFAS in their blood. In response to this danger, new guidelines for drinking water have reduced the safe limit to just a few nanograms per liter, reflecting growing concerns among experts about the impact of this type of chemical.

The team redesigned the catalyst to target the fluoride atoms in PFAS directly. When exposed to sunlight, the material breaks down the stable chemical structure of PFAS, releasing fluoride ions—a harmless compound that can be reused in products like toothpaste or fertilizer. The method is low-energy, environmentally friendly, and can be used on a large scale to treat water and remediate areas contaminated with PFAS. The new material can also be integrated into existing water treatment systems. The process involves capturing and concentrating PFAS from a water source, then passing it through a catalyst under sunlight to break it down. This approach not only cleans up the water, but also creates a reusable source of fluoride, reducing waste.

PFAS contamination remains a global challenge, but this work represents a significant step toward safer communities and cleaner ecosystems. The team is continuing to test the material’s stability and durability, ensuring long-term performance under harsh conditions, and working toward mass production for practical applications. Commercialization of this technology could be a major boon for countries facing the enormous costs of cleaning up PFAS contamination, especially in areas where water supplies are already severely contaminated.

Beyond Australia, this solution has the potential to be applied globally. As the problem of “forever chemicals” becomes a concern in many countries, such a technology that is effective, energy-efficient, and easy to deploy could become an important tool in protecting public health and improving the quality of the living environment. Environmental experts say that if the technology is widely deployed, this could be a turning point in the control of PFAS, turning this dangerous chemical from a threat to a reusable resource.

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