The “forever chemicals”. How to remove them from the wastewater?

Have you heard of the “forever chemicals” lately in the news? Are you curious what they are and why we should care?

“Forever chemicals” is a phrase media have implemented for a class of emerging contaminants-PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance). This class of compounds has gained public interest due to the investigation of their global presence in water bodies. PFAS are highly stable compounds that do not degrade under environmental conditions. In addition, these compounds were linked to adverse health effects in animals and humans. Conventional wastewater treatment plants are not equipped to remove these compounds leading to their release into the environment. My study tested nanofiltration (NF) membranes for the removal of these compounds. Specifically, the optimization of membrane choice and operation condition as well as effect of membrane fouling and cleaning processes on the removal process of PFAS were investigated. The gained knowledge will help for the future application of NF membranes in the removal of PFAS.

Dr Natascha Rossi started her water journey in 2011 when she started her Bachelor of Science in Water Science at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. The importance of water treatment matched her interests and she continued with the Master in Water Science. In 2019 she started her PhD at the Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology at UQ with the focus on PFAS removal and graduated in 2024.