Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic organic compounds with exceptionally strong carbon–fluorine bonds that have been widely used in industrial applications and firefighting foams, resulting in persistent environmental contamination and associated human and ecosystem health risks. In response, regulatory pressure is increasing globally, creating urgent demand for treatment technologies that move beyond traditional approaches.
This project will translate a breakthrough photo-driven, plasmon-enhanced catalytic technology that enables complete PFAS defluorination under ambient, low-energy conditions into a pilot-ready water treatment technology. The process does not require external hydrogen and avoids the formation of short-chain byproducts.
Through catalyst optimization, validation in real-world waters, and pilot-scale integration, the project will deliver a treatment technology that supports long-term protection of water resources, ecosystems, and human health.
