'Absolutely Non-Decomposable' Coating Fear... Seeking Decomposition Method?[Reading Science]

Northwestern University Discovers 'Affordable and Simple' Teflon Decomposition Method
"Still a Long Way to Go... The Variety of Related Substances Is Vast"

Poster of the movie "Dark Waters," which deals with the 'Teflon' contamination incident.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] '99% of humanity is already addicted.' The 2020 film "Dark Waters" warned of this while addressing the environmental pollution problem caused by Teflon, an "ultra-high-strength compound that never decomposes." Teflon, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are widely used as coatings for cooking tools such as frying pans, waterproof clothing, and snack bags. However, there has been ongoing controversy over their harmfulness when mixed into soil and water and accumulated in the human body. Although scientists have devised removal methods, they have been costly, involving ultraviolet (UV) treatment and high temperature and pressure above 1000 degrees Celsius, and incineration raised concerns about environmental pollution. Recently, a U.S. research team has attracted attention by developing a method to remove some of these compounds easily and at low cost.

According to the international academic journal Nature on the 21st (local time), a research team from Northwestern University in Illinois, USA, published a paper containing this treatment method in the scientific journal Science on the 18th. The paper presented a method to remove the most commonly used PFAS compounds by applying inexpensive additives and heating to about 100 degrees Celsius.

According to the study, PFAS compounds are composed of carbon-fluorine bonds, one of the strongest chemical bonds in nature, boasting tremendous strength. The problem is that these substances, which do not dissolve or decompose naturally, accumulate in soil and water, and when absorbed by humans, animals, or plants, can cause fatal diseases. In fact, in 2015, PFAS compounds were found in the blood of 97% of Americans, and research showed they could cause severe diseases such as thyroid disorders and cancer.

The research team focused on the oxygen atoms bonded to the molecules of these compounds rather than breaking the strong carbon-fluorine bonds. They conducted experiments by adding dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a commonly used organic liquid solvent, and detergent or soap to water containing PFAS and heating it. The results showed that ten types of PFAS compounds decomposed into harmless substances. Notably, they confirmed that perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOA), internationally banned due to its association with increased birth defects and various cancers, thyroid diseases, and chronic renal failure, could also be decomposed by this method. The team also discovered that, contrary to general predictions, carbon atoms detached in groups of two or three rather than one at a time during decomposition.

However, there is still a long way to go. Currently, more than 12,000 types of PFAS chemicals have been developed and are in use. Moreover, the removal method proposed by this research team works for the PFOA family, the most well-known toxic compounds, but cannot be applied to another widely known PFAS group, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) compounds. Additionally, the large-scale use of DMSO during decomposition could become another source of pollution.

A research team official said, "We hope this study will help other scientists researching PFAS," adding, "It is not the ultimate solution, but we hope it can have a positive impact on the world."