Single-pot mechanochemically-enabled fluorine atom closed-loop economy using PFASs as fluorinating agents.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), termed 'forever chemicals', present significant environmental and human health risks.
• Existing PFAS destruction methods often require harsh conditions (high temperatures, strong reducing agents), limiting sustainable recycling of fluoride byproducts.
• Developing efficient and environmentally benign methods for PFAS degradation and fluoride recovery is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a user-friendly, single-pot mechanochemical approach for defluorination of PFASs.
• To demonstrate the transfer of fluorine from PFASs to organic molecules.
• To explore the scalability and applicability of the method to common fluorinated polymers.

Main Methods:

• A mechanochemical process was employed for the defluorination of PFASs in a single pot.
• The method facilitates fluorine transfer to acceptor organic molecules.
• The approach was tested on decagram scales and applied to fluoroplastics like PVDF and PTFE.

Main Results:

• The mechanochemical system achieved high defluorination efficiency, minimizing the need for extensive purification.
• Minimal solvent filtration was sufficient, even for large-scale (decagram) operations.
• The method successfully defluorinated various fluorinated polymers, including PVDF and PTFE.

Conclusions:

• A novel, efficient, and user-friendly single-pot mechanochemical method for PFAS defluorination has been developed.
• This strategy offers a sustainable pathway for breaking down persistent 'forever chemicals' and their associated fluorinated materials.
• The approach holds significant potential for environmental remediation and the recycling of fluorinated waste streams.