Descripción del proyecto
Tecnología modulable para la destrucción sostenible de sustancias perfluoroalquiladas y polifluoroalquiladas
Las sustancias perfluoroalquiladas y polifluoroalquiladas (PFAS), a menudo denominadas «sustancias químicas eternas», han mostrado una resistencia excepcional a los métodos avanzados de tratamiento del agua. Suponen un riesgo importante debido a su potencial de bioacumulación y toxicidad, con más de nueve mil sustancias de este tipo identificadas. En consecuencia, existe una necesidad urgente de procesos o tecnologías capaces de romper los enlaces C-F que constituyen las sustancias PFAS sin generar subproductos tóxicos. El equipo del proyecto GRAPHEC, financiado por el Consejo Europeo de Investigación, pretende abordar este reto. El equipo ya ha avanzado con el desarrollo de ánodos de esponja de grafeno que emplean procesos electroquímicos para descomponer las sustancias PFAS. Aunque esta solución se encuentra en fase de investigación y desarrollo, podría contribuir al logro de los objetivos del Pacto Verde Europeo, en concreto a la erradicación sostenible de las sustancias PFAS.
Objetivo
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used since the 1940s and are known as “forever chemicals” due to their extreme persistency to advanced (waste)water treatment strategies. Due to the strength of the C-F bond, each released molecule of PFAS remains in the environment. Today there are more than 9,000 known PFAS, majority of them being extremely resistant to any kind of degradation, and with high bioaccumulation potentials and toxicities.
Electrochemical processes can address the challenge of PFAS presence in water, provided that the anode material is low cost and can break the C-F bond without forming toxic byproducts. Graphene sponge anode developed by our team is the first material to fulfill both requirements. In this project, we will aim at upscaling the electrochemical treatment based on graphene sponge electrodes and testing its long-term performance in degrading PFAS from complex residual streams. This will enable us to answer key scientific and technical questions required for further technology adoption by the water industry, many of them related to the fundamental mechanisms of electrochemical C-F bond breakage and features of anodically polarized graphene. Based on the results achieved to date at lab-scale, GRAPHEC technology has a strong potential to evolve into a sustainable, chemical-free destruction technology for PFAS-laden wastewaters and achieve their complete destruction at ambient temperature and pressure, in modular units, with low capital and operational cost.
Finally, this project also aims at keeping the existing intellectual property and engaging early technology adopters in Europe and beyond to form a mature network of future clients and reach a technology readiness level (TRL) 6 at the end of the project. The project will deliver a new platform technology for the removal of toxic and persistent chemicals from water and is likely to play a key role in the EU´s Green Deal Agenda for securing a toxic-free environment.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept GrantsInstitución de acogida
17003 Girona
España