Sorb & Destruct – developing next-generation nanomaterials for PFAS treatment

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) constitute a class of anthropogenic chemicals characterized by extreme environmental persistence and widespread occurrence. Their extensive use in applications such as firefighting foams, surface treatments, and industrial processes has led to contamination of soils, groundwater, and biota. Due to the high stability of the carbon-fluorine bond, PFAS resist natural degradation and have been associated with adverse health effects, including carcinogenicity, immunotoxicity, and reproductive impairment. Despite increasing regulatory attention, effective remediation of PFAS-contaminated environments remains a major scientific and technical challenge.

The Sorb & Destruct project addresses this challenge by developing a remediation strategy that integrates contaminant immobilization with targeted chemical transformation. The approach is based on a composite material combining biochar, a carbonaceous sorbent derived from biomass residues, with nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI), a reactive material capable of inducing reductive transformation processes. Biochar provides a high specific surface area that enables efficient sorption of both long- and short-chain PFAS, while the embedded nZVI promotes reactions that weaken and cleave carbon-fluorine bonds, enabling defluorination and chemical degradation.

In contrast to conventional remediation technologies that rely primarily on physical containment and require long-term management of contaminated materials, Sorb & Destruct aims to achieve a reduction of PFAS mass and toxicity directly in the environment. Through controlled laboratory studies and field-relevant testing, the project will evaluate the performance, stability, and longevity of the biochar-nZVI composite under environmentally relevant conditions. By integrating principles of green chemistry with materials science, the project seeks to contribute a scientifically robust and scalable approach for remediation of PFAS-contaminated soils and groundwater, with direct relevance for drinking water protection and contaminated land management.

Objectives of Sorb & Destruct

The overarching objective of Sorb & Destruct is to develop a sustainable and scalable remediation technology that enables both efficient capture and active destruction of PFAS in contaminated soils and groundwater. To achieve this, the project will pursue the following specific objectives:

1. Develop and characterize biochar-nZVI composite materials with high sorption capacity and chemical reactivity toward both long- and short-chain PFAS.
2. Investigate coupled sorption and transformation processes to overcome the limitations of containment-based remediation strategies.
3. Elucidate PFAS degradation and defluorination pathways using high-resolution mass spectrometry, with particular attention to intermediate transformation products.
4. Assess material stability, reusability, and long-term performance under environmentally relevant conditions.
5. Demonstrate the applicability of the developed materials through laboratory and field-relevant experiments, supporting future upscaling and implementation.