Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology have unveiled an innovative method to remove toxic PFOS from water using iron powder. This breakthrough could lead to more affordable and efficient water purification systems.
In a recent study, scientists at Stevens Institute of Technology have unveiled a novel method to combat PFOS, a subgroup of the notoriously persistent “forever chemicals” that are found in numerous everyday products and have been linked to serious health issues. By utilizing iron powder, the researchers have discovered a highly effective and cost-efficient way to purify water.
PFOS, or perfluorooctane sulfonates, are synthetic compounds extensively used to impart resistance to stains, fire, grease, soil and water in items like non-stick cookware, carpets, upholstered furniture, food packaging and specific firefighting foams utilized at airports and military airfields.
Belonging to the larger category known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), these chemicals have been connected to alarming health problems, including liver disease, immune issues, developmental defects and cancer.
Due to their widespread use, PFOS contaminants have infiltrated soil, agricultural products and drinking water supplies, posing significant public health risks.
Addressing this concern, Xiaoguang Meng and Christos Christodoulatos, professors in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology, and Meng Ji, a doctoral student in their lab, embarked on a mission to find an efficient method to extract these toxins from water sources.
Traditionally, activated carbon is employed in water filters to capture these persistent pollutants through adsorption, where contaminant molecules adhere to the activated carbon’s extensive surface area. Despite its effectiveness, activated carbon is relatively costly, leading the researchers to explore alternative solutions.
Their study compared the efficiency of microscale zero-valent iron (mZVI) with traditional activated carbon in adsorbing PFOS. Surprisingly, their results indicated that iron powder significantly outperformed activated carbon.
“The iron powder was 26 times more effective than activated carbon per unit surface area,” Ji said in a news release, highlighting the remarkable potential of iron in water purification.
Published in ACS Publications on March 19, 2025, the study has garnered significant interest, having been viewed over 1,000 times already.
Meng noted the durability of iron powder, even when it rusted, which did not diminish its adsorption capacity.
“The particles’ surface is covered by iron oxide, but it’s still very active,” he added, indicating that oxidized iron remains effective in removing PFOS.
This unexpected discovery has spurred further interest within the scientific community, according to Meng.
Looking ahead, Meng and Ji are keen to delve deeper into understanding why rusted iron retains its adsorption properties.
“Now we need to do more research to find out why,” Meng added. “Because this is important for the development of large-scale removal technologies.”
Source: Stevens Institute of Technology