Fluorine reclaimed from PFAS in mechanochemical process

By Victoria Atkinson | C&EN | April 7, 2025

Read the full article by Victoria Atkinson (C&EN)

"A straightforward mechanochemistry method can break down problematic PFAS compounds while simultaneously recovering the fluoride they contain for use in the production of commercial fluorochemicals (Nature 2025, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08698-5).

The accumulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, is a growing cause of concern. Their strong carbon–fluorine bonds give these compounds excellent chemical and thermal stability, and they are widely used in applications as diverse as packaging, textile treatments, and firefighting equipment. Those same useful properties also make PFAS-based materials incredibly resistant to degradation. Rising concentrations in the environment coupled with worrying evidence about the health implications of exposure have made clear the urgent need for methods that safely destroy these chemicals and prevent further contamination.

Intriguingly, tackling the PFAS problem was not a primary focus for Véronique Gouverneur and her team at the University of Oxford. While the group was investigating safer methods to produce fluorochemicals from fluorspar, the major mineral source of fluorine, they developed a simple mechanochemical procedure combining the raw mineral with phosphate salts. The results seemed too good to be true. The process returned a greater than 100% yield of fluoride."