Activated carbon from water treatment plants as the "final disposal site"? No chemicals or high temperatures needed — The impact of new technology that "grinds away" PFAS

Activated carbon from water treatment plants as the "final disposal site"? No chemicals or high temperatures needed — The impact of new technology that "grinds away" PFAS

2025年11月23日 22:45

Crush the "Forever Chemicals"—A New Approach to PFAS Decomposition

Destroying PFAS, known as "forever chemicals," at room temperature and pressure without using additional chemicals or heat—this dreamlike method has been reported by a research team from Clarkson University in the United States.


The method involves placing activated carbon, which has adsorbed PFAS, into a stainless steel ball mill and simply rotating it. This method, which seems too simple to be true, is claimed to actually "erase" PFAS.Phys.org


What are PFAS? The Dual Nature of "Convenience" and "Persistence"

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a class of synthetic chemicals known for their heat resistance, water repellency, and oil-repelling properties, with over 10,000 types. They have been used in everyday items such as non-stick coatings for frying pans, water-repellent outdoor clothing, oil-resistant food packaging, and foam fire extinguishers.CHEM Trust


On the other hand, it has been revealed that PFAS hardly decompose in nature and continue to accumulate in the environment and human bodies. They have been detected in blood and breast milk, with studies linking them to immune system suppression, increased cancer risk, liver and kidney damage, and infertility.European Environment Agency


In Europe, PFAS contamination has become a serious social issue. France has passed comprehensive PFAS bans targeting cosmetics and textiles, and the EU is gradually restricting the use of foam fire extinguishers.Reuters


Reports of "record-high levels" of PFAS being detected in drinking water, soil, and wildlife continue to emerge worldwide, including in Japan.AP News


"We Can Adsorb, But What Next?" The Dilemma of Activated Carbon Treatment

Currently, the widely used method for PFAS contamination control is adsorption using granular activated carbon (GAC). Activated carbon has countless pores that can remove organic pollutants like PFAS by attaching them to its surface. This mechanism is used in many water treatment plants and household water purifiers.Environmental Protection Agency


However, there is one major challenge: "How to dispose of the spent activated carbon full of PFAS."

  • If simply landfilled, there is a risk that PFAS could leach out over time.

  • High-temperature incineration can advance decomposition, but it requires a lot of energy, and if decomposition is incomplete, other harmful substances may be released.

  • Chemical decomposition methods face issues with reagent costs and byproduct management.


While techniques to "capture" PFAS are being developed, solutions for "safely disposing" of them have been lacking a decisive breakthrough. This is where the current research comes into play.Phys.org


Rattling in a Ball Mill... Can That Really Erase PFAS?

The research team at Clarkson University focused on a stainless steel ball mill used for grinding materials. This device, familiar in mining and materials science, consists of a cylindrical container where steel balls several centimeters in size roll and collide, crushing the contents into fine particles.Phys.org


In the study, granular activated carbon that had adsorbed PFAS was placed into the ball mill and rotated with the steel balls. The friction between the balls, the container, and the activated carbon generated electrons known as "triboelectrons," which triggered reactions between the carbon and PFAS. As a result, the strong carbon-fluorine bonds in PFAS molecules were cleaved, leading to their stepwise decomposition.Phys.org


Importantly, this process was achieved under the following conditions:

  • No additional chemicals used (additive-free)

  • No special heating or solvents required, can be conducted at room temperature

  • Can process granular activated carbon already widely used as raw material

The experiment confirmed nearly complete decomposition of multiple types of PFAS, including long-chain and short-chain variants, and reported that no PFAS leached out when the treated activated carbon was tested under "landfill conditions."Phys.org


Why "Simplicity" is Big News

Research on PFAS decomposition has been active worldwide in recent years. Methods combining high-energy plasma, ultrasound, photocatalysts, and special reducing agents have been proposed, but many require dedicated equipment, and the cost of chemicals and byproduct risks have been obstacles.SpringerLink


The strength of this method lies in its sheer "simplicity."

  1. Compatibility with Existing Infrastructure
    Many water treatment plants already have GAC processing facilities. After adsorbing PFAS, the GAC can be collectively placed into the ball mill, making the process relatively straightforward to add.

  2. Equipment is not overly specialized
    The ball mill itself is not a special experimental device but is commonly used in various industries such as mining, cement, and battery materials. The ease of scaling up is a significant advantage.

  3. Chemical-free with minimal byproduct concerns
    Since no chemicals are added, the risk of unknown byproducts being present in large quantities in the treated solids or exhaust gases is reduced. Of course, detailed evaluation is necessary in the future, but the policy of "adding as little as possible" is attractive as an environmental technology.

Researchers have shown that the treated activated carbon can withstand landfill disposal, stating that it could become a simple route to safely "end" activated carbon contaminated with PFAS.Phys.org


How Did Social Media React? A Mix of Hope, Skepticism, and Anger

When this news was reported, various reactions emerged on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and LinkedIn. Here are some typical voices, summarized:


1. Joy over the possibility of finally not being "forever"

"PFAS news is usually bleak, but this is something hopeful for a change."

"If it requires little electricity or chemicals, even small local water treatment plants might adopt it."

Many users were excited about the possibility that this unexpected approach of mechanical grinding could be a game-changer against PFAS, long seen as the symbol of "indestructibility."


2. Cautious voices wanting to see proof at a demonstration scale

"I've heard 'complete decomposition' at the lab level many times. The real test is when processing tons at an industrial scale."

"Have energy consumption, equipment wear, and maintenance costs been properly calculated?"

Professionals in environmental engineering and the water business offered many cool-headed critiques. Grinding requires significant energy, and new challenges such as metal contamination from ball or mill wear are anticipated.


3. Anger over the continued production of PFAS

"No matter how 'destructible' the technology becomes, if you don't turn off the tap, the bathtub will overflow."

"Taxpayers and residents always bear the cost of pollution. We need a system where PFAS manufacturers bear the processing costs."

In Europe, large-scale PFAS contamination has been discovered, making the enormous cleanup costs and health impacts a social issue.The Guardian


People viewing this technology in that context caution, "New technology is welcome, but it must not be used as a tool to blur discussions on regulation and corporate responsibility."


4. Discussions from the perspective of science communication

"'Destroying PFAS with triboelectrons' sounds like a tagline from a sci-fi movie."

"This should be included in high school chemistry textbooks. It's a great example to teach the strength of chemical bonds and the difficulty of decomposition."

There were also voices appreciating the intuitive communication of complex environmental chemistry topics by combining them with a familiar machine like a ball mill.


Of Course, It's Not a Panacea: Remaining Challenges

While expectations are high, many questions remain about this technology.

  1. Scaling Up and Energy Efficiency
    The research was conducted with relatively small samples, and it is unknown how much time and power it would take to process the large amounts of GAC at a water treatment plant level. If the energy required for grinding is too high, the overall environmental impact could increase.

  2. Interactions with Other Pollutants
    In reality, activated carbon adsorbs not only PFAS but also other organic substances and metals. Detailed evaluation is needed to determine whether these affect the reaction with triboelectrons, reducing PFAS decomposition efficiency or creating unexpected byproducts.

  3. Destination of Treated Materials
    Although no PFAS leaching was detected in the experiment, long-term stability and the potential for reuse are future themes. If the activated carbon post-ball mill treatment can be reused for other purposes, its value from a resource circulation perspective increases.

  4. Connection with Regulations
    How regulatory authorities define the criteria for considering PFAS "completely decomposed" is also crucial. With advances in trace analysis technology, detection limits are continuously lowering, and determining what is "safe" requires not only scientific but also societal consensus.


What It Means for Our Lives

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