In a groundbreaking move, researchers from the University of Surrey have introduced the SonoBio technology, a hybrid solution combining ultrasound and biodegradation to address one of the planet’s most persistent pollutants: PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.” These synthetic chemicals are found in everyday items like pizza boxes, dental floss, and non-stick cookware, and they are notoriously difficult to break down. Over time, they accumulate in the environment and even in human bodies, posing serious health risks such as cancer and hormonal disruption.
The key innovation behind SonoBio is the combination of high-frequency ultrasound and microbial electrochemistry. This combined process transforms PFAS into harmless by-products like carbon dioxide and fluoride, tackling the chemicals at a molecular level. The ultrasonic waves break apart the chemical bonds, allowing microbes to finish the job in a sustainable way.
Current methods to eliminate PFAS fall short, especially when relying solely on biological processes. While ultrasound can fully degrade PFAS, it’s usually effective only in high concentrations or specific forms. SonoBio overcomes these challenges by integrating biology and engineering, making it a scalable and sustainable solution.
With £947,000 in funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the first pilot for this innovative technology is slated to begin in 2025. Researchers are optimistic that this method could lead to the complete removal of these harmful substances from our environment, offering a significant breakthrough in environmental engineering.
The impact of this development is far-reaching, as forever chemicals are pervasive in ecosystems and human populations globally. According to Dr. Madeleine Bussemaker, the project lead:
These chemicals are everywhere, found in nearly every person and countless everyday products. They’re incredibly tough to break down, which is why they stick around in our bodies and the environment for decades.
That is why we are delighted to have the support of UKRI in our effort to one day render obsolete the ‘forever chemicals’ tag attached to these persistent chemicals.
Without innovative solutions like SonoBio, they would persist in our environment for decades, threatening health and biodiversity.
Professor Claudio Avignone Rossa, Professor of Systems Microbiology Stated:
This is a strong project directed to address the important issue of the ‘forever chemicals’, ubiquitous substances affecting human, animal and environmental health and wellbeing. This is a multi- and inter-disciplinary collaboration that combines our strong basic and applied background in chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry and bioanalysis, allowing us to design strategies to degrade those pollutants and reduce their severe, long-lasting effects.
As the countries and leaders across the world try to work together to combat environmental degradation and human-made pollutants, the SonoBio project highlights the power of interdisciplinary collaboration in science and engineering. By integrating chemistry, microbiology, and advanced ultrasound technology, researchers aim to render PFAS and their harmful effects obsolete.
This project could mark the beginning of the end for “forever chemicals,” providing a much-needed solution to an issue that has long plagued environmental efforts globally.
