ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)

Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have developed an innovative cationic covalent organic framework (COF) that efficiently detects and removes perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a harmful and persistent pollutant, from drinking water. 
This breakthrough addresses the global challenge of removing perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS), or “forever chemicals,” which accumulate in water and pose severe health risks, including cancer and developmental issues.

The synthesised COF material developed at NYUAD Trabolsi Research Group is capable of detecting and removing PFAS from water quickly and efficiently at environmentally relevant concentrations, offering a promising solution beyond traditional treatment methods that struggle to remove PFAS. This material could be incorporated into household water filters, boosting the performance of conventional materials, which allows for practical and scalable applications worldwide.

The findings are published in Nature Communications in a study titled “Cationic Covalent Organic Framework for the Fluorescent Sensing and Cooperative Adsorption of Perfluorooctanoic Acid”. 
Through a simple sonochemical method, the researchers developed a COF that optimised both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions and had an abundance of adsorption sites to maximise interactions with PFAS molecules. This allowed the COFs to detect and remove PFOA within seconds, even at environmentally relevant concentrations.

The researchers then investigated the mechanisms underlying both detection and rapid removal through computer simulations, providing insights into its interactions at the atomic level and serving as a valuable guide for further research in this field.

“This breakthrough, offering a faster, more efficient solution than existing technologies, has the potential to transform water purification and greatly improve water quality around the world,” said Ali Trabolsi, NYUAD professor of chemistry and Co-PI at the NYUAD Water Research Centre who led this work with his team, including Postdoctoral Research Associate Asmaa Jrad and Research Associate Gobinda Das.

“With the prevalence of ‘forever chemicals’ in our environment and bloodstreams posing a significant danger to human health, this new technology is both timely and essential.”

In recognition of the impact of this research, Jrad was named a 2023 MIT Innovator Under 35, highlighting the innovation’s significance. The team hopes this project will raise awareness of PFAS risks in the UAE and globally, advocating for increased PFAS monitoring and safety standards.