When it comes to the subject of drinking water quality, there is increasingly more talk worldwide of PFAS, a group of hazardous substances also known as ‘forever chemicals.’ These substances, which are practically nondegradable, have been used in abundance industrially since the 1940s. They are primarily used in the production of water-resistant and grease-proof surfaces, whether in materials such as Gore-Tex, Teflon, various cosmetic and technical products, or even in fire extinguishers. PFAS can enter the human body through water or food and remain there permanently, raising serious concerns for people’s health.
The South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses (CENAKVA), under the Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (FFPW USB), is carrying out research focused on monitoring and eliminating these chemicals. The faculty analyses fish meat among others, which is an ideal indicator of the quality of water sources, since PFAS bind to proteins and accumulate in fish. Researchers at the faculty have initiated the project Smart Water, developed ahead of the open call OP JAK – Intersectoral Collaboration for ITI. The aim of the open call is to support collaboration between research organisations and the sphere of application, with an emphasis on concrete joint research projects, the future applicability of the results and laying the foundations for long-term co-operation.
“Project Smart Water is financed by the South Bohemian Region as part of a long-term regional strategy for the management of water sources. The project is focused not only on drinking water, but will also develop and apply technology to manage waste water. In this way, it tackles the problems of protecting water sources for human needs and for the correct functioning of the environment. I am glad that the University of South Bohemia is participating in this project, because our long-term preoccupation is the issue of sustainability and managing natural resources. The project is currently undergoing the final stage of evaluation, so we are at the very beginning,” says Professor Pavel Kozák, Ph.D., rector of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice.
The purpose of the Smart Water project is to develop and test effective technical solutions for the removal of micropollutants from drinking water, including suitable solutions for small, local water sources and tap water systems. This means the possibility of modifying water directly in households, through the use of filters placed over faucets. However, the majority of water filters are unable to obstruct PFAS. Nanocarbon filters are a different story; they contain activated charcoal, which (just like the human digestive tract) works inside a filter to bind harmful substances and toxins to itself. It absorbs harmful substances, and the contact time of water with activated charcoal is long enough to gradually remove most of the dangerous substances from the water, including PFAS.
For this reason, the company Filbec, which is developing advanced filtration technologies based on activated charcoal, is partnering with the research team at FFPW USB. New technologies that combine charcoal filters with sorption resins could play a key role in improving the quality of drinking water not only in households, but also on a larger scale. Project Smart Water will bring effective new technologies essential for the protection and improvement of the quality of drinking water, which is fundamental for the health of inhabitants and the preservation of natural resources across the globe.
This article appeared in the seventh issue of the print magazine N&N – Noble Notes
