Read the full article by Zoë Read (WHYY News Climate Desk).
“Scientists from Temple University’s College of Engineering are researching whether the use of air bubbles can remove toxic chemicals from surface water before it makes its way to people’s taps.
The goal is to remove harmful PFAS chemicals and microplastics at the same time, and with sustainability in mind. The current mainstay for removing PFAS is effective, but also energy-intensive.
Water providers are required to treat the so-called ‘forever chemicals’ over the next five years. However, there are no federal regulations for microplastics, which can also absorb and carry PFAS in the environment.
‘We need to also focus on the microplastic, because PFAS adsorbs onto the surface of the microplastic,’ said Saiful Islam, a PhD student in Temple’s environmental engineering program. ‘Most of these emerging contaminants coexist in our environment, as well as the aquatic system, and all of these contaminants interact with each other.'”…