LED lights in room temperature can 'clean up' forever chemicals overnight, suggests study

Forever chemicals, a group of dreaded pollutants, are being found in all kinds of places, even inside human wombs. But imagine a simple solution: A 100 per cent 'cleanup' using LED lights. Is that even possible?

If an experiment made by scientists in Japan is an indication, LED light exposure along with a cocktail of chemicals can isolate, separate and remove the dangerous parts in forever chemicals, scientifically called Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS.

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The researchers reportedly managed to 'clean up' the forever chemicals at room temperature, and that too overnight, or just eight hours to be precise.

For the experiment, researchers at Japan’s Ritsumeikan University used a mixture made of cadmium sulfide nanocrystals, triethanolamine and water. The forever chemicals were then put into this mixture, and exposed to LED lights of 405-nanometer wavelength, burning at around 100 degrees Fahrenheit temperature.

The PFAS used in this experiment were perfluorooctanesulfonate or PFOS.

The aim was to start a photocatalytic reaction that eventually breaks down and separates the fluorine irons of the forever chemicals. The experiment proved to be a success, as per a report in New Atlas.

Not only was the separation and removal of these pollutants done, but the chemical process also freed up some parts of the dreaded PFAS that can be put to good use. These are fluorine ions, which can be used for industrial products.

PFAS is the name given to a bunch of chemicals that are resistant to water and extreme heat.

This is possible because of the presence of carbon-fluorine bonds in them.

While they are used in a number of products like water-proof cloths, non-stick cookware and foam used by firefighters, their very resilient qualities also make them dangerous. They are resistant to heat and would require at least 400 degrees Fahrenheit to burn. This makes their disposal near-impossible. PFAS are generally buried in landfills to prevent their further exposure.

Once ingested, they can stay in the human body 'forever', hence the name forever chemicals.

(With inputs from agencies)