They’re in your nonstick pans, fast-food wrappers, waterproof makeup, and even your drinking water. Known as “forever chemicals”, PFAS (short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of synthetic compounds that are everywhere—and extremely hard to get rid of.
PFAS are called “forever” for a reason: their chemical bonds are so strong that they can linger in the environment—and in our bodies—for decades. Research has linked them to serious health risks, including cancer, immune system suppression, and developmental issues. With more than 14,000 different PFAS chemicals in circulation, finding a safe and scalable way to eliminate them has become one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time.
Researchers at Colorado State University are working on a bold solution: a system to completely destroy PFAS, not just filter or store them.
The team is combining two key steps to remove and destroy PFAS from contaminated water: foam fractionation and electrochemical destruction. Foam fractionation removes PFAS by introducing air into contaminated water to create foam, separating the PFAS, and allowing for more efficient disposal. Once the PFAS are concentrated, the team aims to use an electrochemical reactor to break them apart at the molecular level. This method doesn’t just trap the chemicals—it aims to eliminate them completely.
With funding from the Advanced Industries Proof of Concept Grant Program, the team is working to bring this technology to market—where it could make a measurable difference for clean water, public health, and the environment.
“With this funding, we can demonstrate the technology at a scale that investors will find appealing,” said Mitchell Olson, the project lead and associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at CSU. “Without it, it could take up to five years to reach that scale.”
The project brings together a multidisciplinary team. Reza Nazemi, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, is focused on mineralizing PFAS into carbon dioxide through electrochemistry. His goal is to design catalysts—materials that help speed up chemical reactions—that can effectively absorb and mineralize PFAS in a cost-effective and energy-efficient manner. Thomas Borch, professor of soil and crop sciences with a joint appointment in chemistry, is applying his expertise in analytical chemistry to verify the results and confirming that PFAS are truly destroyed—and that no new harmful byproducts are left behind.
Together, this team is building a solution that could be deployed in the real world to tackle a problem affecting millions of people. Clean drinking water, safer products, and healthier communities all depend on technologies like this one making it out of the lab and into use.
Olson’s project was one of five funded last year through the Advanced Industries Proof of Concept Grant Program, funded by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and managed by CSU Strata. The program aims to accelerate the commercialization of promising innovations that have the potential to create economic impact in Colorado.
Learn more about the program at csustrata.org/technology-transfer/ai-poc-grant and read about last year’s winners at csustrata.org/news-article/five-csu-researchers-awarded-more-than-half-a-million-in-funding.
This article is part of a series highlighting the winners of the 2024 Advanced Industries Proof of Concept Grant Program. Check out our blog and subscribe to our newsletter for related stories.