New Filtration Technology Could Be a Game-Changer in Removing PFAS “Forever Chemicals” 

PFAS – often called “forever chemicals” – have a nasty habit of doing exactly what their nickname suggests: they don’t break down, they build up in the environment, and they accumulate in our bodies.

Used for decades in non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, firefighting foams, food packaging and industrial processes, PFAS are now found in rivers, groundwater, drinking water – and even rain.

The scale of the problem has felt overwhelming. Until now.

A breakthrough from the lab

Researchers at Rice University have developed a new filtration material that could dramatically change how we deal with PFAS pollution.

Their peer-reviewed research describes a layered double hydroxide (LDH) material made from copper and aluminium that can:

• Absorb long-chain PFAS up to 100× faster than current filtration systems

• Target the most persistent and dangerous PFAS compounds

• Potentially destroy PFAS after capture, rather than just storing them elsewhere

That last point matters. Many existing systems simply move PFAS from water into waste filters or sludge, creating another long-term disposal problem.

Why this matters for the UK

PFAS contamination is not just a US issue. In the UK:

• PFAS have been detected in rivers, chalk aquifers and drinking-water catchments

• Firefighting foams have left a legacy of contamination near airfields and industrial sites

• Water companies face increasing pressure to meet tighter safety standards

A technology that works 100 times faster could radically reduce the cost and time needed for clean-up – especially for contaminated groundwater and industrial wastewater.

The big catch: scale

There is, of course, a familiar warning.

While the lab results are impressive, the researchers are clear that scaling this technology up to industrial levels will be challenging. Manufacturing the material cheaply, deploying it at water-treatment scale, and ensuring safe handling of captured PFAS are all hurdles still to be overcome.

Still, this is one of the most promising developments in PFAS remediation in years – and a reminder that clever chemistry still has a huge role to play in fixing environmental damage.

As reported by The Guardian, this research doesn’t solve the PFAS problem overnight – but it does offer something we’ve been short of: realistic hope.

The bigger question

If this technology proves viable, it raises an uncomfortable issue:

If we can remove PFAS effectively… why are we still allowing new “forever chemicals” into everyday products?