I just found your page and honestly this is an excellent explanation. This is the kind of content that should go viral. Keep up the amazing work. Im grateful I found your channel!
Thanks for sharing. I work with fire fighting foams - a major source of PFAS release into the environment. We have a few fluoro free foams under our belt. Hoping for the ban of use in these products in the near future.
Loved the way you introduced the terms in such an innovative manner.. Will never forget PFA Serous and her babies. I owe this to you. Thank you! Looking forward for more videos.
Could you do a video on Dioxins potentially? Dioxins from Fires have me especially intrigued. On a semi-related note (although potentially out of scope for this channel) Incinerator Design for the types used in PFS Destruction and such would be interesting! I’m thinking it is essentially a gas furnace, then more application specific emissions control systems? Either way I don’t know much about them but would love to learn more!
Actually the products of thermal (or other) PFAS destruction are monitored and studied. Called PID (Products of Incomplete Destruction) sometimes they are measured.
Hi could you do an update on the pfas situation (and possible solution of the polution problem? Recently, I learned that Northwestern scientists added PFAS molecules to a solution of lye and dimethyl sulfoxide and exposed them to temperatures of up to 248 degrees Fahrenheit. The chemicals degraded into fluoride ions and other byproducts.
It is too widespread in the environment so it is impossible to retrieve it all back. So here’s my thoughts on it 1. Stop production 2. Filter it out and use the method northwestern scientists used on a massive scale on the filtered out byproducts
There is some controversy around re-mineralization of RO water. Many companies claim re-mineralization is mandatory for health reasons, and they sell products that may or may not provide significant quantities of minerals to the water. Most minerals from your diet come from your food, rather than water, so I would focus on making sure your total diet contains the recommended amount of minerals. There certainly may be other risks of RO water that I'm not aware of as well.
What using White Rot fungus to absorb the PFAS from the soil and water? It could just remain there indefinitely, doing its job, and wouldn't have to be destroyed afterwards. On a large enough scale, this could solve the problem at least in localized areas. It might take awhile to "take off" but once things were in full-swing, I don't see how that wouldn't effectively take care of this problem at least for the purpose of using water and soil for human-needs purposes.
How about phytoremediation where one uses a plant that can absorb the harmful chemical such as Hemp which is used by the Native American Tribe of Micmac in Maine who claimed land from the government next to the Loring Airforce Base? Also, Could introducing Nitrogen cause the carbon bonds to get redirected? For sure carbon covalent bonds are extremely tough to break, but since carbon is such a prolific bond maker, perhaps it might have a stronger attraction to Nitrogen. Maybe add some Nitrogen molecule that needs carbon? I know Platinum is a catalyst that breaks covalent bonds of Hydrogen and Oxygen. Perhaps it can break down the covalent bonds of the carbon in PFAS?
Pytoremediation is a method of Removal of PFS, Some sort of Catalytic Process would be covered in that Destruction of PFS bit. Interesting though I’ll look up that case. Someone in a video on agricultural contamination mentioned “they would have to grow corn for 5 years only to destroy it to clean up their land” which may have been the same process, neat!
Supercritical Water Oxidation is pretty neat. I like Supercritical *Gasification* even more though! I am uncertain how the Fluorine behaves, is it part of the ash mixture? (I Like Gasification More Because it Can integrate it with Energy and/or Heat Generation like Biomass Power (especially in the case of Wastewater Treatment / Biosolids etc) or into (Bio-)Refinery and Chemical Plant Workflows that need the Hydrogen / Carbon Monoxide) Either way *especially* since phytoremediation will probably play a role, integrating methods that work with Biomass/Bioenergy well may allow for some synergy there. Also reduces energy use (Granted proper Life Cycle Assessment needed)
Great question and I'm not sure there is a clear answer at this point. Most teflon polymers contain very low or no traces of the short-chained PFAS used in their production (PFOA for example). Wearing appropriate PPE to limit inhalation exposure to dust from machining would likely protect you from significant exposure.
Unlike some more notorious chemicals they aren’t as immediately dangerous. (Especially pure PTFE, not the Precursors/Byproducts in Wastewater which cause the most havoc). Bioaccumulation is a risk though, and given it’s effects are being researched as we speak (with us as test subjects of sorts) it may end up being worse than we thought. It is probably going to be a slow phase out, but for nonessential things (most consumer products etc) it probably can be rapidly phased out if not banned. I know personally I don’t plan on buying any PTFE Based Nonstick (Teflon) Pans, i try and limit use of PTFE in any designs i use, don’t buy PTFE Lubricant Cans, etc Talking to your representatives and making sure the people around you are informed is important as well! (Granted Chemical Corporate Dollars are fighting against you, but between sheer will+numbers (and campaign finance reform, although that is a whole separate beast) they CAN be beat)
This is a great idea, but the energy it would take to free up those CF bonds would be more energy than the combustion would generate. Very tricky to burn a fire-retardant!
I just found your page and honestly this is an excellent explanation. This is the kind of content that should go viral. Keep up the amazing work. Im grateful I found your channel!
Thanks for sharing. I work with fire fighting foams - a major source of PFAS release into the environment. We have a few fluoro free foams under our belt. Hoping for the ban of use in these products in the near future.
Im glad i stumbled across this channel while researching pfas 👍
thank you so much for sharing , looking forward for more videos of PFAS
Loved the way you introduced the terms in such an innovative manner.. Will never forget PFA Serous and her babies. I owe this to you. Thank you! Looking forward for more videos.
This is a great video to understand this concept. PFOSerous and Baby PFASerouses are now stuck in my brain forever!
"If you apply enough energy to anything, you will destroy it." Epic words.
Awesome video!
Really well made video!
Could you do a video on Dioxins potentially? Dioxins from Fires have me especially intrigued.
On a semi-related note (although potentially out of scope for this channel) Incinerator Design for the types used in PFS Destruction and such would be interesting! I’m thinking it is essentially a gas furnace, then more application specific emissions control systems? Either way I don’t know much about them but would love to learn more!
Great info, bro I hope you're a science teacher somewhere 👍🏻
This guy explain it beautifully.
Thank u for sharing g ur skill of simplicity the topic.
Actually the products of thermal (or other) PFAS destruction are monitored and studied. Called PID (Products of Incomplete Destruction) sometimes they are measured.
Hi could you do an update on the pfas situation (and possible solution of the polution problem?
Recently, I learned that Northwestern scientists added PFAS molecules to a solution of lye and dimethyl sulfoxide and exposed them to temperatures of up to 248 degrees Fahrenheit. The chemicals degraded into fluoride ions and other byproducts.
It is too widespread in the environment so it is impossible to retrieve it all back. So here’s my thoughts on it
1. Stop production
2. Filter it out and use the method northwestern scientists used on a massive scale on the filtered out byproducts
Can you provide a link to the filter method
Thanks for all the great info! Do you know if re-mineralization is needed after in home filtration with a RO system for example?
There is some controversy around re-mineralization of RO water. Many companies claim re-mineralization is mandatory for health reasons, and they sell products that may or may not provide significant quantities of minerals to the water. Most minerals from your diet come from your food, rather than water, so I would focus on making sure your total diet contains the recommended amount of minerals. There certainly may be other risks of RO water that I'm not aware of as well.
What using White Rot fungus to absorb the PFAS from the soil and water? It could just remain there indefinitely, doing its job, and wouldn't have to be destroyed afterwards. On a large enough scale, this could solve the problem at least in localized areas. It might take awhile to "take off" but once things were in full-swing, I don't see how that wouldn't effectively take care of this problem at least for the purpose of using water and soil for human-needs purposes.
How about phytoremediation where one uses a plant that can absorb the harmful chemical such as Hemp which is used by the Native American Tribe of Micmac in Maine who claimed land from the government next to the Loring Airforce Base? Also, Could introducing Nitrogen cause the carbon bonds to get redirected? For sure carbon covalent bonds are extremely tough to break, but since carbon is such a prolific bond maker, perhaps it might have a stronger attraction to Nitrogen. Maybe add some Nitrogen molecule that needs carbon? I know Platinum is a catalyst that breaks covalent bonds of Hydrogen and Oxygen. Perhaps it can break down the covalent bonds of the carbon in PFAS?
Pytoremediation is a method of Removal of PFS, Some sort of Catalytic Process would be covered in that Destruction of PFS bit.
Interesting though I’ll look up that case. Someone in a video on agricultural contamination mentioned “they would have to grow corn for 5 years only to destroy it to clean up their land” which may have been the same process, neat!
How do they get the nonstick coating to stick to pans?
🍳🤔
Break it down with SCWO
Supercritical Water Oxidation is pretty neat. I like Supercritical *Gasification* even more though! I am uncertain how the Fluorine behaves, is it part of the ash mixture?
(I Like Gasification More Because it Can integrate it with Energy and/or Heat Generation like Biomass Power (especially in the case of Wastewater Treatment / Biosolids etc) or into (Bio-)Refinery and Chemical Plant Workflows that need the Hydrogen / Carbon Monoxide)
Either way *especially* since phytoremediation will probably play a role, integrating methods that work with Biomass/Bioenergy well may allow for some synergy there. Also reduces energy use (Granted proper Life Cycle Assessment needed)
Is machining teflon dangerous?
Great question and I'm not sure there is a clear answer at this point. Most teflon polymers contain very low or no traces of the short-chained PFAS used in their production (PFOA for example). Wearing appropriate PPE to limit inhalation exposure to dust from machining would likely protect you from significant exposure.
finally epa and eu made the regulations to ban pfas in 2024
Dilution is the Solution for Pollution.
Water distillation??
Distillation is an effective solution, but with high energy cost, similar to or greater than reverse osmosis filtration.
Why aren't these TOXINS BANNED?
Unlike some more notorious chemicals they aren’t as immediately dangerous. (Especially pure PTFE, not the Precursors/Byproducts in Wastewater which cause the most havoc).
Bioaccumulation is a risk though, and given it’s effects are being researched as we speak (with us as test subjects of sorts) it may end up being worse than we thought.
It is probably going to be a slow phase out, but for nonessential things (most consumer products etc) it probably can be rapidly phased out if not banned. I know personally I don’t plan on buying any PTFE Based Nonstick (Teflon) Pans, i try and limit use of PTFE in any designs i use, don’t buy PTFE Lubricant Cans, etc
Talking to your representatives and making sure the people around you are informed is important as well! (Granted Chemical Corporate Dollars are fighting against you, but between sheer will+numbers (and campaign finance reform, although that is a whole separate beast) they CAN be beat)
Burn it and generate the electricity
This is a great idea, but the energy it would take to free up those CF bonds would be more energy than the combustion would generate. Very tricky to burn a fire-retardant!
Seems like used nuclear fuel rods could cook it off, but that would make too much sense.