Innovating Works

FOCUS4PFAS

Financiado
Functionalized low-cost graphene sponge electrodes for sustainable water treatme...
Functionalized low-cost graphene sponge electrodes for sustainable water treatment and complete defluorination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) FOCUS4PFAS The presence of toxic, carcinogenic and bioaccumulative per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in our water cycle is one of the major challenges that the humanity is facing in the 21st century, and there are no established (wa... The presence of toxic, carcinogenic and bioaccumulative per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in our water cycle is one of the major challenges that the humanity is facing in the 21st century, and there are no established (waste)water treatment technologies capable of their degradation. Here, we will address this challenge by developing low-cost graphene sponge electrodes tailored to achieve efficient electrosorption/adsorption and subsequent electrochemical degradation of PFAS. Emphasis will be placed on the removal and degradation of more polar, shorter-chain (e.g., <C6) PFAS, as well as PFAS more recently introduced by the industry. Preliminary experiments performed in the host group demonstrate that graphene sponge electrodes are capable of defluorinating PFAS even in low-conductivity water. Given that they are electrochemically inert towards chloride, thus effectively overcoming a major limitation of electrooxidation processes –formation of toxic chlorinated byproducts, the progress made in this project on the functionalization and tailoring of graphene sponge electrodes for PFAS removal from water will enable a major leap towards a wide-scale implementation of electrochemical processes, and allow treatment even of the complex brackish, PFAS-laden waters. The applicant’s background on target and non-target/unknown analysis of organic contaminants in (waste)water using LC-HRMS, besides QSAR tools for the identification of toxicity alerts and the host group’s expertise on nanoelectrochemical system using low-cost reduced graphene oxide (RGO)-based electrodes for water treatment will ensure the success of this project. FOCUS4PFAS will strengthen the research on chemical-free water treatment technology for complete defluorination of PFAS, including the very polar homologues, and their removal from the contaminated water. FOCUS4PFAS will provide new opportunities for decentralized (waste)water treatment, reuse, and source control of contaminated waste streams. ver más
31/08/2025
165K€
Duración del proyecto: 38 meses Fecha Inicio: 2022-06-22
Fecha Fin: 2025-08-31

Línea de financiación: concedida

El organismo HORIZON EUROPE notifico la concesión del proyecto el día 2022-06-22
Línea de financiación objetivo El proyecto se financió a través de la siguiente ayuda:
Presupuesto El presupuesto total del proyecto asciende a 165K€
Líder del proyecto
FUNDACIO INSTITUT CATALA DE RECERCA DEL AIGUA... Otra investigación y desarrollo experimental en ciencias naturales y técnicas asociacion
Perfil tecnológico TRL 4-5