An international team of scientists, led by Australian researchers, has made a major breakthrough in safely destroying harmful ‘forever chemicals’ known as PFAS.

Their study is the first to track how PFAS break down during burning, offering a potential solution for safely eliminating these persistent pollutants.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are found in many everyday products like non-stick cookware, food packaging, and old firefighting foams.

These chemicals are called ‘forever chemicals’ because they do not break down naturally and can accumulate in the environment, causing harm to humans and animals.

Currently, burning PFAS is restricted in the U.S., and there is uncertainty about its safety worldwide.

If not done properly, incineration can release harmful substances into the air, making the problem worse.

However, this new research provides a way to destroy PFAS completely and safely inside hazardous waste incinerators.

Scientists from CSIRO (Australia’s national science agency), the University of Newcastle, Colorado State University, and China’s National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory studied how PFAS burn. Their focus was on a common type of PFAS called perfluorohexanoic acid.

According to CSIRO Environmental Chemist Dr. Wenchao Lu, all PFAS share a strong fluorocarbon chain that does not naturally break down. This makes them extremely persistent in the environment.

Using specialized equipment, researchers detected extremely short-lived molecules—some lasting only a millisecond—as PFAS burned. These molecules had only been theorized before but were now observed in real-time.

“By capturing ‘snapshots’ of these reactions, we can see exactly what happens inside the incinerator and confirm whether harmful byproducts form,” Dr. Lu explained.

A path to safe incineration

University of Newcastle Professor Eric Kennedy emphasized that their findings are crucial to ensuring PFAS are fully destroyed without releasing toxic substances.

“By identifying these short-lived molecules, we can fine-tune incineration processes to make sure PFAS burn completely and safely,” he said.

The ultimate goal of incinerating PFAS is called ‘mineralization.’ This process breaks the strong chemical bonds and converts them into safer, inorganic compounds like calcium fluoride, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water. These byproducts can then be captured and repurposed for industrial uses, such as making concrete, fertilizers, and fuels.

While more research is needed, this study offers hope for safely destroying PFAS pollution. PFAS can seep into soil and water, spreading far and wide, making their removal a critical environmental challenge.

With this discovery, scientists are one step closer to eliminating these harmful chemicals and preventing further contamination, ensuring a cleaner and safer future for all.