Oxford innovators take on ‘forever chemicals’

Researchers at the UK’s University of Oxford are pioneering a method to break down the fluorine-containing substance PFAS. This could signal a vital step towards safer and more efficient recycling.

Commonly called ‘forever chemicals’, PFAS are used in textiles, food packaging, non-stick cookware and medical devices. Between 75 000 tonnes and 100 000 tonnes of PFAS are produced annually in Europe alone. Latest market data puts the global market value at EUR 24 billion. Recyclers have long complained of contaminated material tainting the purity of recycled material.

However, the global scale of PFAS pollution requires new technologies for detection, recovery and destruction, alongside responsible waste management. Chemists at the University of Oxford have partnered with Colorado State University to develop a solution that destroys PFAS while recovering the valuable fluorine within them.

Mechano-chemical solution

The method involves reacting PFAS with potassium phosphate salts in the solid state. The mixture is ground with ball bearings, breaking down the PFAS and releasing the fluoride. The recovered fluoride can be used to produce common reagents in industrial processes.

Crucially, this approach supports a circular economy for fluorine. Fluorspar, the mineral used to produce nearly all fluorochemicals, is classed as critical by many countries due to its scarcity. Recovering fluorine from PFAS could reduce reliance on mined reserves. Phosphate, used as an activator in the process, is also recovered and reused, avoiding harm to the phosphorus cycle.

The method works on all PFAS classes, including those in non-stick coatings, electrical insulation and industrial tubing. Everyday waste, such as Teflon tape, can be upcycled to generate fluorine-containing chemicals. These chemicals include precursors for medicines like statins (Lipitor), anti-seizure drugs (Rufinamide), and herbicides (Triaziflam).

Accidental discovery

The breakthrough began serendipitously, recalls Professor Véronique Gouverneur, who led the study. During early experiments, her team noticed that sealing rings containing PFAS in ball-milling jars degraded, unexpectedly increasing fluoride yields.

This suggested the method could break down PFAS and release usable and high-value fluorochemicals. Subsequent testing confirmed the process works across a wide range of PFAS chemicals.

‘Fluoride recovery is vital because our fluorspar reserves, essential for medicines, are depleting,’ Gouverneur explains. ‘This method eliminates PFAS waste while supporting circular fluorine chemistry.’

Long Yang, a lead author, adds: ‘Mechano-chemical destruction with phosphate salts offers a simple yet powerful solution. We hope it challenges the idea of PFAS as truly “forever chemicals”.’