New polymer materials may offer breakthrough solution for hard-to-remove PFAS in water

(Press-News.org) Scientists are developing a new generation of polymer-based materials that could dramatically improve the removal of persistent “forever chemicals” from drinking water, according to a new review synthesizing recent advances in environmental remediation research.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, are a large class of human-made chemicals used in products ranging from firefighting foams to nonstick cookware and textiles. Their extreme stability allows them to persist in the environment and accumulate in water supplies, raising growing concerns about long-term health risks and environmental exposure.

While conventional filtration materials such as activated carbon are widely used, they often struggle to capture newer short-chain PFAS molecules that are smaller, more mobile, and harder to remove under real-world water conditions. These challenges have prompted scientists to explore more selective and adaptable solutions.

The new review highlights polymer adsorbents as a promising alternative. Unlike traditional materials, polymers can be engineered at the molecular level to create highly specific binding environments that capture contaminants more effectively.

“Our work shows that the key to removing short-chain PFAS lies in designing materials that recognize the molecule in multiple ways at once,” said one of the study’s authors. “By combining electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and fluorine-compatible regions within a single polymer structure, we can significantly improve both selectivity and efficiency.”

The review proposes a unifying design principle called cooperative binding microenvironments. This approach integrates several molecular interactions within confined polymer architectures, enabling the material to anchor the charged PFAS headgroup while simultaneously stabilizing its fluorinated tail. Such cooperative interactions help overcome the weak adsorption that typically limits conventional treatment systems.

Researchers examined several emerging polymer families, including cyclodextrin-based networks, molecularly imprinted polymers, hydrogels, and electroactive polymers. Across these systems, many studies reported removal efficiencies exceeding 90 percent and effluent concentrations reduced to extremely low levels even in complex water matrices containing competing ions and organic matter.

The analysis also emphasizes that performance alone does not guarantee environmental benefit. Using life cycle assessment methods, the researchers found that polymer manufacturing processes can carry significant environmental burdens due to solvent use, energy demand, and chemical inputs. In some cases, production impacts could rival the benefits of pollutant removal if not carefully managed.

To address this, the authors recommend combining advanced polymers with existing treatment technologies in staged systems. Traditional carbon or ion-exchange materials could remove bulk contaminants first, while specialized polymers perform final polishing to capture trace short-chain PFAS. Such hybrid strategies could improve efficiency while reducing environmental costs.

The study also points toward integrated “capture-concentrate-destroy” approaches, where polymers first collect PFAS and then enable energy-efficient destruction technologies to eliminate the chemicals completely rather than simply transferring them elsewhere.

Overall, the review concludes that polymer adsorbents have the potential to become key components of next-generation water treatment systems, provided that advances in molecular design are matched by progress in sustainable manufacturing and system integration.

As global PFAS regulations tighten and detection limits fall to extremely low levels, the ability to selectively capture these persistent contaminants will become increasingly important for safeguarding drinking water and protecting ecosystems.

 

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Journal reference: Yang W, Chen P, Huang J, Zu D, Yang K, et al. 2026. Emerging polymer-based adsorbents for short-chain PFAS: mechanisms, performance, and research outlook. Energy & Environment Nexus 2: e007 doi: 10.48130/een-0026-0002 

https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/een-0026-0002  

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Energy & Environment Nexus (e-ISSN 3070-0582) is an open-access journal publishing high-quality research on the interplay between energy systems and environmental sustainability, including renewable energy, carbon mitigation, and green technologies.

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