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 ...

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 ...

Straws and disposable tableware: Also made of paper often with harmful chemicals for the environment and health

The supposedly better alternative is often not better at all, scientists emphasize

29-Aug-2023 - (dpa) Instead of the banned plastic straws, many restaurants now offer paper straws. However, these can also be harmful to the environment and health, warns a research team in the journal "Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A". Many supposedly environmentally friendly drinking straws made of ...

Chemists develop method to sustainably remove hazardous substances from water

New progress in the fight against PFAS

27-Jun-2023 - PFAS - per- and polyfluorinated chemicals - are true all-rounders. The grease-, water- and dirt-repellent chemicals occur in thousands of varieties, for example in cookware, functional clothing, cosmetics and as fire extinguishing agents. Unfortunately, they are also a massive problem for the ...

"Eternal chemicals": practical but toxic

The long-lived and toxic substance group of PFAS should be replaced by flour-free alternatives

06-Apr-2023 - They are known as "eternal chemicals" because they are extremely long-lived and cannot be broken down naturally: perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS). This is a major problem, because these substances are toxic to humans and the environment - and they are now found almost ...