PFAS analysis: Reliably detecting eternity chemicals

analytica conference: PFAS in the focus of science

27-Feb-2024 - Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are colloquially known as “eternity chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment. PFAS do not occur naturally, but they can be found in all sorts of things from food packaging and outdoor textiles to seals and hoses. This group ...

Environmentally friendly alternative to PFAS-based coatings

21-Feb-2024 - The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald, Germany has developed a new method for the production of ultra-hydrophobic organosilicon polymer coatings. These coatings are an alternative to per- and polyfluorinated compounds (PFAS), which are still used in many ...

Fluorinated Ski Wax Ban

Skis with Functional Surfaces as an Alternative

10-Jan-2024 - The winter sports industry is searching for a substitute for the banned fluorinated ski wax. Scientists at the Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) have developed an environmentally friendly alternative that does not compromise performance: skis with an innovative microstructure. Whether in ...

Using clay to combat eternal toxins

TU Freiberg clarifies basis for innovative PFAS filter made of clay

06-Dec-2023 - PFAS filters available for industrial waste are usually made of activated carbon (PFAS = perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds). As this is comparatively expensive, researchers are looking for alternative filter materials for the so-called "eternal toxins", whose hazardous residues ...

Award for innovation in the detection of PFAS compounds

Thuringian startup and Fraunhofer Institute receive Lothar Späth Award

30-Nov-2023 - The use of perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) has not only been controversial for a long time, but is also facing a possible EU-wide ban. The associated challenges for manufacturers, who will have to rely on extensive testing of chemicals in the future, are complex. In a ...

analytica 2024: Food analysis for sustainable nutrition

From PFAS to microplastics: focus on new harmful substances

16-Nov-2023 - From meat-free cold cuts to vegan salmon, the food market is changing. More and more consumers want to eat sustainably, but without sacrificing the taste of familiar products. “Modern analytical methods play a key role in the development of alternative foods, which is why analytica is ...

Tracking down Environmental Toxins

Detection of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by interrupted energy transfer

02-Nov-2023 - PFAS, a family of highly fluorinated substances, represent a danger for humans and the environment. Particularly problematic members of this family, such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) appear to cause organ damage and cancer, as well as disrupting the ...

Environmentally friendly non-stick coating replaces per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS) on everyday products

16-Oct-2023 - Whether it is pans, cutlery or packaging, per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS) have been used for coating in a wide variety of everyday products and processes for many years. Due to known risks of these substances to humans and the environment, at least a partial ban on the production and ...

PFAS contaminated water becomes clean again

Promising and environmentally friendly process developed

25-Jul-2023 - There are many man-made environmental pollutants. One of the most serious is pollution with the harmful perpetual chemical PFAS, which can be found in many soils and waters and thus also in our food. Although it is possible to remove it, it is costly and produces hazardous waste. Now, researchers ...

PFAS reduce the activity of immune cells

A study demonstrates immune-modifying effect using a new method

21-Jul-2023 - Because they are persistant, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are also known as "chemicals for eternety". They can lead to liver damage, thyroid disorders, obesity, hormonal disorders, and cancer. A team of researchers from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) has now ...