A research team led by Kobe University has identified bacterial strains in river sediments that can remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS or "forever chemicals." The study was published in the August issue of the Journal of Water Process Engineering.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals characterized by strong carbon-fluorine bonds that make them resistant to degradation. They have been widely used in products such as fabrics and firefighting foam and have accumulated in water, soil, and wildlife globally.
Japan has banned the manufacture and import of several PFAS types, including PFOS and PFOA, with limited exceptions.
The researchers collected sediment samples from the Samondo River in Osaka Prefecture, an area contaminated with PFAS. They isolated and identified bacterial strains capable of reducing concentrations of PFOS and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
The study found that adsorption of PFAS onto bacterial cells plays a key role in the removal process. While some microbes have previously been reported to degrade PFAS, the specific bacterial types involved and the relative roles of degradation versus adsorption have remained largely unknown.
One of the identified strains also significantly reduced PFAS concentrations in leachate from an industrial waste landfill, indicating potential applicability beyond laboratory conditions.
Associate Professor Hideyuki Inui of Kobe University said that culturing and using bacteria collected from the natural environment could enable decontamination at lower costs.
The research contributes to understanding how naturally occurring bacteria interact with persistent chemical pollutants in contaminated environments.
Japanese university finds river bacteria that remove "forever chemicals"
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