​ Using sulfite and iodide under UV light can destroy PFAS in water in a few hours

 Researchers at UC Riverside have found that the addition of iodide (I–) in the UV/sulfite system (UV/S) significantly accelerated the reductive degradation of Perfluorosulfonates and Perfluorocarboxylates, plastics with multiple very strong carbon-fluorine bonds, which are extremely hard to break. Photochemical degradation by UV light and sulfite (SO32−) is the most effective ways to break PFAS down. The original process used a lot of electricity and was not as effective, but the researchers have found that adding Iodide to the mixture results in the complete breakdown of the plastics in 24 hrs. Developing this system and adding it to water treatment works might prevent tons of these harmful chemicals escaping the water treatment works.

Zekun Liu et al.; Accelerated Degradation of Perfluorosulfonates and Perfluorocarboxylates by UV/Sulfite + Iodide: Reaction Mechanisms and System Efficiencies; Environmental Science & Technology 2022 56 (6), 3699-3709



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