SUMMARY
UCLA researchers in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering have developed a method to biodegrade a common perfluoroalkyl manufacturing precursor using various fungal strains.
BACKGROUND
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitously utilized in a variety of consumer, industrial, and military products. Sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals,” they don’t break down in the human body and can accumulate over time. Evidence suggests that there are potential adverse health impacts from exposure to PFAS. These materials are resistant to most conventional chemical and microbial clean-up approaches, which creates a need for an effective remediation technology.
INNOVATION
UCLA researchers in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering have isolated and analyzed several fungi able to biotransform common PFSA, fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH), into less toxic metabolites with lower overall yields of undesired PFCAs. The cultures are capable of significantly reducing PFCA production in a matter of weeks. Importantly, this study is the first effort to investigate the effects of nutrients on fungal transformation of 6:2 FTOH and to elucidate the role of various enzymes which will enable waste treatments that lead to little to no PFCA accumulation.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
ADVANTAGES
RELATED MATERIALS
STATUS OF DEVELOPMENT
Demonstrated on 8 fungi varieties both cultured in the laboratory and isolated from contaminated environments