Researchers develop reusable filter that removes 75% of a ‘forever chemical’ from water

Researchers have designed a small block structure or monolith using 3D printing that can filter one of the most common “forever chemicals” in the water.

A team from the University of Bath in the UK used a special material called indium oxide and through 3D printing, made lattices to maximise the surface area and create small monoliths.

In three hours, the monoliths removed 53 per cent of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), one of the most common forever chemicals also called PFAS. 

Moreover, by heating the monoliths at 500°C and reusing them three times, researchers observed that at least 75 per cent of PFOA was removed.

They published their results in The Chemical Engineering Journal.

“PFAS, or ‘forever chemicals’, are a major focus in water treatment and public health. We have created an efficient way to remove these chemicals from water without using lots of energy,” Dr Liana Zoumpouli, a research associate in the University of Bath’s Department of Chemical Engineering and one of the study’s authors, said in a statement.

“Using 3D printing to create the monoliths is relatively simple, and it also means the process should be scalable. 3D printing allows us to create objects with a high surface area, which is key to the process,” she added.

The four-centimetre-long structures are printed using a special ink containing ceramic indium oxide. By bonding with PFOA, indium oxide removes it from the water.

The authors noted that the three-hour timing is compatible with existing water treatment systems.

“Currently, these chemicals are not strongly regulated in the UK in drinking water, but there are guidelines, and we expect changes in policy quite soon. Water companies are likely to be looking at integrating systems to deal with them,”