Our Research Fluorine-free materials to trap and destroy PFAS
Schematic depiction of proposed multifunctional polyMOC gel for absorption and decomposition of PFAS, circumventing energy and time-intensive regeneration steps.
Principal Investigator
Jeremiah Johnson
- A. Thomas Geurtin Professor of Chemistry
- Associate Head
- Department of Chemistry
Prof. Johnson is the A. Thomas Geurtin Professor of Chemistry and Associate Head of the Department of Chemistry at MIT. He received a PhD in chemistry from Columbia University working with Prof. Nicholas Turro and Prof. Jeffrey Koberstein. In 2011, following a Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship at Caltech with Professors David Tirrell and Robert Grubbs, he began his independent career at MIT. He is a member of the Program for Polymers and Soft Matter, Koch Institute at MIT, and Broad Institute. His research group invents functional (macro) molecules that contribute solutions to global challenges including energy storage, chemical sustainability, and human health.
Challenge:
Can we develop a water purification system which is capable of removing PFAS from water at low concentrations and degrading PFAS into benign products?
Research Strategy
- Removal of perfluorinated contaminants from water using hybrid organic-inorganic gels to yield purified water with less than 7 ppt of contaminant
- Investigation of the PFAS removal scope of novel gels in deionized water and in more complex water sources, such as wastewater, tap water, or river water
- Preparation and validation of catalytic degradation of PFAS to benign products using a multifunctional system for PFAS catch and destroy with supramolecular material, capable of PFAS removal and treatment in a single step without the requirement of energy-intensive recycling and separation steps
Project description
Per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), compounds with both hydrophobic and oleophobic characteristics and excellent stability, are key components for many industrial applications. Their unique chemical and physical properties facilitated their usage in non-stick cookware, water-resistant clothing, grease-resistant food packaging, and various other products. Due to the robustness of PFAS (also called forever chemicals) and the demonstrated toxicity of some specific PFAS molecules, their accumulation in the environment has become a global concern. PFAS species have been detected in drinking water and in nearly every aquatic and terrestrial region where they have been tested, making new effective technologies for the removal and destruction of PFAS highly desirable and necessary.
The research team proposes a novel class of materials for PFAS removal and destruction from contaminated water. Their novel materials uniquely combine different chemical interactions to concentrate PFAS synergistically, yielding purified water. Next to the PFAS absorbing properties, a catalyst will be integrated into the team’s absorbents to allow the destruction of the bound PFAS to benign products. With this novel class of PFAS removing and destroying materials, the researchers hope to pave the way for a PFAS-free future.
Additional Details
Impact Areas
- Water
Research Themes
- Water Purification & Desalination
Year Funded
- 2025
Grant Type
- Seed Grant
Status
- Ongoing