Bio-Polymer Membrane Captures "Forever Chemicals" From Water
Why this is here: The membrane’s ability to be regenerated through a heating process and retain up to 93% of its original adsorption capacity offers a circular solution to PFAS contamination, addressing both pollutant removal and material sustainability.
Researchers developed a bio-based polymer membrane that captures over 94% of PFOA, a type of “forever chemical,” from water. The membrane utilizes nanofibers that swell when exposed to water, creating a tightening net to trap pollutants. Unlike many current methods, this membrane can be heated to remove captured pollutants and reused.
The new material differs from traditional nylon because its structure reorganizes and tightens upon contact with water. This allows it to quickly trap PFAS pollutants within the polymer network. Current clean-up methods for these chemicals can be costly or difficult to scale.
The University of Bath team found the membrane captures roughly half of the PFOA in water within one hour. They also successfully regenerated the membrane through heating and re-spinning, recovering up to 93% of its original pollutant-capturing ability.