http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abm8868?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D87405751245436731003476501941219687288%7CMCORGID%3D242B6472541199F70A4C98A6%2540AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1660658873&_ga=2.228389917.183627334.1660532753-1917198022.1509206891
This is a MAJOR breakthrough. PFAS have spread until they are now found AT TOXIC LEVELS in RAINWATER, literally all around the world (even the north and south poles!) And then they go into the rivers and streams and groundwater supplies.
So imagine my delight when I was reading Science and stumbled on this article!
DMSO, which some of us have used for health reasons, combined with simple lye (NaOH) and heated to 250 F tears apart the "forever" PFAS within hours. That still requires processing, but at least it gives a practical solution to a growing problem which should concern us all!
Good old DymethlySulfoxide! De wonder chemical of yore!
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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been referred to as “forever chemicals” because of their resistance to most biological and chemical degradation mechanisms. Most current methods use very harsh conditions to decompose these compounds. Trang et al. found that there is a potential weak spot in carboxylic acid–containing PFAS: Decarboxylation in polar, non-protic solvents yields a carbanion that rapidly decomposes (see the Perspective by Joudan and Lundgren). The authors used computational work and experiments to show that this process involves fluoride elimination, hydroxide addition, and carbon–carbon bond scission. The initial decarboxylation step is rate limiting, and subsequent defluorination and chain shortening steps occur through a series of low barrier steps. The procedure can accommodate perfluoroether carboxylic acids, although sulfonic acids are not currently compatible. —MAF
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