Japanese Researchers Develop Light-Based Method to Break Down 'Forever Chemicals'

New technique achieves 100% defluorination of PFAS at room temperature, promising a sustainable solution for environmental contamination.

PFAS, known for their persistence and environmental harm, can now be decomposed using visible LED light at room temperature.
Researchers at Ritsumeikan University achieved complete defluorination of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) in eight hours.
The method involves cadmium sulfide nanocrystals and copper-doped nanocrystals exposed to visible light.
This innovative approach generates high-reduction potential electrons that break strong carbon-fluorine bonds in PFAS molecules.
The technique could establish a sustainable fluorine-recycling process, reducing reliance on new fluorine production.