Design and synthesis of functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for effective removal of novel per- and polyfluorinated compounds (PFAS) from water

Poly- and perfluoroalkylated compounds (PFAS) are a group of anthropogenic substances with extreme chemical and thermal stability, and unique hydrophobic and lipophobic properties. PFAS have been shown to be very dangerous for the environment due to their large industrial use combined with the aforementioned stability. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) restricted their use and thus gave rise to their new alternatives with etheric oxygen or chlorine atoms. These new alternative compounds have not yet been fully investigated toxicologically, but studies to date indicate that they may also have serious effects on fauna and flora. Hence, there is a need to develop systems for removing these pollutants from contaminated water areas. Conventional wastewater treatment technologies have obvious shortcomings, and among their alternatives, nanotechnology is seen as one of the best and most promising technologies with magnetic nanoparticles appearing to be the most effective. These are further functionalized on their surface for the purpose of higher absorption capacity and better stability of nanoparticles in various environments. This project aims to design a magnetic nanoparticle system to maximize the ability to bind PFAS and subsequently remove them from contaminated waters.