Lithium-based battery method destroys forever chemicals at 94% rate

Researchers at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering have developed a novel lithium-mediated electroreduction method to break down per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), notoriously persistent water pollutants known as "forever chemicals." Led by Assistant Professor Chibueze Amanchukwu, the team adapted battery degradation chemistry to achieve about 94% defluorination and 95% degradation of PFAS, specifically targeting the long-chain molecule perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Unlike previous methods that break PFAS into shorter, harder-to-remove fragments, this approach mineralizes fluorine, effectively breaking nearly all carbon-fluorine bonds without generating problematic byproducts. The process employs lithium-treated copper electrodes in non-aqueous electrolytes, avoiding oxidation challenges due to fluorine's strong electron affinity. This electrochemical technique is modular and site-ready, allowing for small-scale reactors that can be powered by renewable energy sources like solar panels, eliminating the