PFAS - P-WHAT?
Editor: Kerstin Stenger
PFAS have been making headlines and appearing frequently in the media. But what exactly are PFAS? PFAS are per- and polyfluorinated chemicals. Chemically speaking, these organic compounds consist of carbon chains of different lengths in which the hydrogen atoms are completely (perfluorinated) or partially (polyfluorinated) replaced by fluorine atoms. According to the latest estimates, this group of substances comprises more than 10,000 different substances.
- At the European level, a comprehensive EU-wide restriction on PFAS is currently under discussion. Why? Because this group of substances is considered a cause for concern.PFASs do not occur naturally and have only been produced chemically since the late 1940s. Yet they have become part of our everyday lives and can be found in countless products, including:outdoor clothing, for example, we appreciate their water-repellent properties,
- cookware, such as coated pans, chicken breasts don't burn as quickly, and
- Coated takeaway food packaging, where they keep food fresh and prevent liquids from soaking through the packaging.
Why Does Industry Use PFAS?
PFAS offer several outstanding performance characteristics. They are:
- Highly stable
- Resistant to grease and oil
- Water-repellent
- Dirt and grease repellent
At first glance, PFAS seem to offer exactly the benefits consumers appreciate.
Why Are PFAS a Concern?
The stable properties that we value as an advantage are also the disadvantage. Due to their stability, PFAS are not biodegradable. When disposed improperly, the substances are dispersed into the environment through the air. Thus, they accumulate steadily, among other things in water. As a result, PFAS can accumulate in the food chain and enter both animal and human organisms. Currently, there is little possibility to avoid these substances.However, their longevity makes it necessary to reduce these traces. Solutions for targeted wastewater treatment already exist: our Lewatit® ion exchange resins.
Targeted PFAS Removal from Wastewater
The targeted removal of PFAS in wastewater is best explained using a firefighting exercise. This is because PFAS also occur in firefighting foams. For this reason, drainage pipes are laid around the affected area during firefighting exercises, for example at the airport.
In this way, the contaminated water is collected and cleaned at great expense. The defined drainage area can even be several kilometers.
Looking Ahead
As a result of the European Chemicals Agency's call to reduce or even ban PFAS, industry and municipalities will have to think about targeted PFAS reductions and disposal measures.In the future, this could also have consequences for municipal water treatment, for example. Even though PFAS are already being removed today in Germany via active carbon filters, treatment will have to be optimized at lower limits. Lewatit® ion exchange resins could then play an increasing role in municipal water treatment.
