Bioremediation technique disposes of PFAS cheaply and sustainably.
So-called “forever chemicals” may have met their match in the form of microbial fungi that can consume the toxic substances. The fungi are part of a bioremediation technique developed by researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water, according to an article from Nature World News.
Currently, PFAS can only be destroyed by a costly, multi-step procedure called burning after clean-up products like active carbon are employed, according to the article. With their new sustainable and cost-effective treatment method, researchers reportedly use a plant-derived material to absorb the PFAS, which are then consumed by the microbial fungus.
