Innovative Filtration Technology Rapidly Targets “Forever Chemicals”

Researchers explained that the new approach is based on a layered double hydroxide (LDH) material composed of copper and aluminum, which demonstrates a high capacity for absorbing long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

According to the research team, the material operates at speeds up to 100 times faster than conventional filtration systems.

PFAS, widely known as “forever chemicals” due to their resistance to degradation, have been used since the 1950s in numerous consumer and industrial applications.

Their ability to repel water and oil, withstand heat, and act as surfactants has made them commercially valuable. However, these same properties have rendered PFAS among the most persistent and hazardous environmental contaminants.

There are an estimated 15,000 PFAS compounds, all characterized by strong carbon–fluorine bonds that make them highly resistant to breakdown. As a result, they can accumulate in the environment and in the human body for decades, and have been linked to a range of health disorders, including liver disease, thyroid dysfunction, and several types of cancer.

Current water treatment systems typically rely on technologies such as granular activated carbon and ion exchange to remove PFAS. While effective to some extent, these methods often require complex waste management and may generate toxic secondary byproducts.

The newly developed technique captures and concentrates PFAS in large quantities, enabling their subsequent destruction without the need for extremely high temperatures.

Michael Wong, director of the Water Institute at Rice University and a contributor to the research, explained that the material was engineered by replacing some aluminum atoms with copper, creating a positive charge that enhances attraction to negatively charged PFAS molecules and accelerates adsorption.

“This material absorbs PFAS compounds at a rate nearly 100 times faster than existing alternatives,” Wong said.

The research team added that heating the material after use to temperatures between 400 and 500 degrees Celsius breaks the strong chemical bonds, producing a benign compound that can be safely disposed of.

Although scaling up PFAS removal technologies remains a challenge, scientists emphasize that the LDH material is reusable and compatible with existing infrastructure.

These features, they note, could help lower costs and support broader, large-scale implementation of the technology.