Chemists have developed a rapid electrothermal mineralization (REM) process, which in seconds can remediate the accumulation of synthetic chemicals that can contaminate soil and the environment.
Chemists have developed a rapid electrothermal mineralization process, which in seconds can remediate the accumulation of synthetic chemicals that can contaminate soil and the environment.
The REM process uses electrical inserts in the ground plus biochar, an environmentally friendly conductive additive, to rapidly heat contaminated soil to over 1,000°C in seconds through a direct current pulse. The intense heat converts PFAS into calcium fluoride, a nontoxic mineral, utilizing the natural calcium compounds present in the soil. This method has demonstrated high removal efficiencies and mineralization ratios .
The REM process stands out for its speed, efficiency, scalability and environmental benefits. The method reduces energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and water use compared to existing remediation practices. The lab-scale process can handle up to 2 kilograms of soil per batch, marking a significant step toward larger-scale, on-site application systems currently being designed.
Other authors include Rice's Department of Chemistry's Bing Deng, Phelecia Scotland, Lucas Eddy, Karla Silva, Bowen Li, Kevin Wyss, Jinhang Chen, Qiming Liu, Tengda Si and Shichen Xu; Rice's Department of Biosciences' Arman Hassan and Matthew McCary; Rice's Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering's Bo Wang and Michael Wong; the U.S.
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