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Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a simple and cost-effective method for destroying harmful “forever chemicals” (PFAS) using heating with granular activated carbon (GAC), which could significantly improve the environmental situation.
PFAS are industrial chemicals widely used in non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, and food packaging, and their persistence in the environment poses serious health risks. They accumulate in water, food, and even the human body, and can take hundreds of years to break down naturally. Traditional methods for destroying PFAS have required extremely high temperatures and complex processes, making them unsuitable for widespread use.
A research team led by Feng Xiao found that heating PFAS with GAC at 300 °C can destroy up to 90% of these chemicals, converting them into harmless compounds. As the study author notes, “this method is practical and sustainable because it uses readily available materials.” Activated carbon, which is already used in water treatment systems, can not only filter PFAS, but also contribute to their effective destruction.
The proposed approach opens up new prospects for environmental cleaning without significant financial costs and complex technical solutions. This research can become the basis for the development of mass environmental programs to remove “eternal chemicals” from water resources, ensuring a safer future for people and nature.
