UC Riverside researchers found bacteria Acetobacterium capable of degrading "forever chemicals" PFAS in water sources.

UC Riverside researchers discovered specific bacterial species, Acetobacterium, that can break down certain "forever chemicals" (PFAS) in contaminated water sources. These bacteria, commonly found in wastewater environments, cleave the strong fluorine-to-carbon bonds in PFAS, making them more biodegradable. This marks the first known bacterium capable of reductive defluorination of PFAS structures.

July 17, 2024
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