A team of researchers from The Ohio State University, led by Linda Weavers, professor of civil, environmental, and geodetic engineering, have discovered that ultrasound technology could be a promising way to break down a harmful class of chemicals known as PFAS. These chemicals are commonly found in products like waterproof clothing and firefighting foam and pose serious environmental and health risks. Using ultrasound, the team found that smaller PFAS compounds degrade faster than their larger counterparts, challenging conventional treatment methods that find it more difficult to break down smaller PFAS molecules.

The ultrasound method emits low-frequency sound waves, creating cavitation bubbles in a solution that rapidly collapses, generating extremely high temperatures. These temperatures are sufficient to break the strong carbon-fluorine bonds in PFAS, effectively neutralizing their harmful effects. Unlike other treatment methods that rely on chemical reactions, ultrasound has shown unique promise in breaking down these stubborn compounds.

Despite its effectiveness, ultrasound treatment remains experimental and comes with high energy costs. Nonetheless, the study suggests that ultrasound technology could be valuable in treating contaminated water supplies. Regulatory agencies are already working to increase public awareness about the risks of PFAS and are considering new rules to monitor and restrict their levels in drinking water.

This research was published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry A. 

In addition to Weavers, other co-authors of the study include William P. Fagan and Shannon R. Thayer, both working on this project at Ohio State.

To learn more, visit Ohio State News and WOSU Public Media,