CycloPure is developing novel, high-affinity cyclodextrin polymers for the cost-effective remediation of hazardous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) from water. Decades of use of perfluorinated chemicals in manufacturing (plastics, Teflon, Scotchgard) and in aqueous film-forming foam formulations used at airports and military bases has led to widespread prevalence in water resources, affecting water supplies serving at least 16.5 million customers. Toxic at low concentration, with confirmed links to a number of serious illnesses, including thyroid disease and several cancers, PFAS contamination of drinking water represents a significant public health concern. In response to water supply closures across the Northeast during the past 18 months, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently lowered its health advisory level for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) from 400 ppt to 70 ppt, a six-fold decrease. Separately, numerous States have adopted or are considering significantly lower health advisory levels, including Pennsylvania at 6 ppt. Although many technologies have been explored for remediation of PFOA- and PFOS-contaminated water, adsorption-based methods using activated carbon remain the most widely used approach. However, activated carbon has notable shortcomings including susceptibility to fouling by natural organic matter, energy-intensive regeneration process, and most importantly low affinities which result in the need for significantly large amounts of material to achieve desired levels of removal. Designing adsorbents that address these deficiencies is critical in the development of efficient and cost-effective processes in the remediation of PFOA and PFOS. Leveraging the flexibility of its cyclodextrin-based technology platform, CycloPure?s ongoing research efforts on PFAS removal are focused on developing bio-derived polymer adsorbents with high affinities for PFOA and PFOS in water to provide a superior remediation solution. The long-term goal of this project is to act on these strengths and develop a commercially viable process for the remediation of PFOA- and PFOS-contaminated water resources. The objective for Phase I is the development and screening of new polymer derivatives with high affinity for PFOA and PFOS that can be cost-effectively produced in large scale. This Phase I study is structured around three Specific Aims: (1) optimization of reaction parameters to develop a scalable polymerization process, (2) development of new polymers by tailoring the chemical nature of cyclodextrins and crosslinkers, and (3) characterization of adsorption parameters of these polymers for PFOA and PFOS.
These research aims will produce the most technically superior polymer formulation(s) for PFOA/PFOS remediation, and provide the basis for their further development and testing under a Phase II proposal. CycloPure?s PFAS remediation technology has the potential to outperform conventional treatment processes and provide effective solutions for impacted communities to access clean and safe water.
The contamination of water resources by highly toxic per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and their resulting ingestion by humans from drinking water, poses significant health risks. Given the known toxicity and pervasiveness of these chemicals, the development of selective, highly efficient, and cost- effective remediation technologies is critical for eliminating these substances from water. CycloPure is developing novel and sustainable polymer adsorbents with high affinities for PFOA and PFOS in water that will lead to a more efficient and cost-effective remediation technology compared to current treatment methods.
