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The Rising Tide Against PFAS In Water: How Nanofiber Technology Promises A Cleaner Future

In recent years, the issue of PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) contamination in water has emerged as a significant environmental and public health concern. PFAS, often referred to as "forever chemicals" due to their persistence in the environment, have been linked to a range of adverse health effects, including cancer, immune system effects, and developmental delays in children. A recent study estimates that 200 million Americans could have PFAS in their drinking water at a concentration above levels considered safe 1. As awareness grows, so does the urgency for effective solutions to mitigate the impact of these contaminants in our water supplies. Among these solutions, nanofiber solutions have shown promise in effectively filtering out PFAS from water, providing a potential method to address this pressing issue.

PFAS compounds have been widely used in various industrial applications and consumer products, such as non-stick cookware, water-repellent fabrics, and firefighting foams, due to their resistance to water, oil, and heat. However, their resilience becomes a double-edged sword when it leads to accumulation in the environment, particularly in water sources. The challenge of removing PFAS from water is compounded by their chemical stability and the vast number of compounds under the PFAS umbrella, each with its unique properties and health implications

Market Size and Regulatory Environment

The market for PFAS remediation technologies is expanding rapidly, driven by increasing regulatory scrutiny and public demand for clean water. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued health advisories for specific PFAS compounds. Several States in the United States have independently set guidelines for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, 3–35 ng/L) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS, 10–40 ng/L), and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new stricter advisory levels for PFOA (0.004 ng/L) and PFOS (0.02 ng/L) in 2022 2,3. Globally, similar actions are underway, creating a burgeoning market for effective water treatment solutions. The global PFAS treatment market is expected to grow significantly, with projections indicating a multi-billion dollar industry in the coming years.

The Drawbacks of Traditional Methods

While GAC and Ion Exchange Resins have been the cornerstone of water treatment for various pollutants, their effectiveness against PFAS, especially short-chain compounds, is limited. Here's why:

Limited Efficacy for Short-Chain PFAS: Short-chain PFAS are more soluble in water, making them harder to capture using GAC or Ion Exchange Resins. These traditional methods, effective against larger molecules, often fail to adequately address the entire spectrum of PFAS compounds, leaving a significant gap in remediation efforts.

Challenges in Regeneration: Both GAC and Ion Exchange Resins pose substantial challenges in regeneration. GAC requires high temperatures for regeneration, a process that can degrade its adsorptive capacity over time. Similarly, regenerating Ion Exchange Resins often involves complex chemical treatments, making it a costly and environmentally burdensome process. This difficulty in regeneration not only increases operational costs but also impacts the sustainability of the treatment process.

The Promise of Nanofiber Technology

Enter Electrospinning technology—particularly electrospun nanofiber membranes—a cutting-edge solution that stands at the forefront of the battle against PFAS contamination. Nanofibers, with their incredibly fine diameters and high surface area-to-volume ratios, offer a new paradigm in water filtration. These nanofibers can be engineered to target and capture PFAS molecules specifically, offering several advantages over traditional adsorbents like Granular Activated Carbon (GAC):

High Efficiency: Electrospun Nanofibers can be tailored to capture both long-chain and short-chain PFAS compounds, enhancing removal efficiency across a broad spectrum of contaminants.

Regeneration Capability: Unlike many conventional materials, nanofiber filters can be designed for regeneration, allowing for repeated use and reducing waste.

Customization: The flexibility in the design and functionalization of nanofibers (Manufactured via the Electrospinning Technology) means they can be adapted to target specific PFAS compounds or to meet the needs of different water treatment scenarios.

Looking Ahead: Nanofiber as the Next Generation Solution

As we navigate the complexities of PFAS regulation and seek sustainable solutions, nanofiber technology—particularly electrospun nanofiber membranes—emerges as a beacon of hope. Its adaptability and efficiency position it as a next-generation tool in our arsenal against PFAS contamination. Recently, Matregenix submitted a proposal (ER25-C3-4589) titled ‘Plasma-Regenerated Low Pressure Drop Nanofiber Filters for Effective, Economical and Long-Lasting PFAS Removal from Water’ to FY25 SERDP Core Solicitation after our pre-proposal was approved by the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP).

The objective of this project is to develop an advanced nanofiber filtration system equipped with plasma-assisted regeneration specifically designed for the effective removal of a broad spectrum of PFAS from water. This technology aims to achieve superior adsorption efficacy (> 0.7 mmol/g for short-chain, including PFHxA, PFBS, and GenX, and long-chain, including PFOA and PFOS), operational robustness across a range of conditions (pH from 4 - 10), and a sustainable regeneration process (10 cycles), thereby ensuring safe drinking water and compliance with environmental regulations.

In conclusion, this project expects to deliver a reusable and sustainable water treatment solution effectively removing a broad spectrum of PFAS by developing an advanced electrospun nanofiber membrane functionalized with amine and polyethyleneimine (PEI) combined with a novel plasma regeneration process. The anticipated benefits include improved operational robustness and sustainability of PFAS removal in water treatment, reduced health risks for military and civilian personnel, and a decrease in PFAS environmental impacts. Scientifically, the project will advance understanding of PFAS behavior and remediation in microscale, offering insights that could inform broader environmental management practices. Ultimately, this effort seeks to deliver a scalable, cost-effective approach to PFAS removal, to bridge the gaps of the current insufficient removal techniques including granular activated carbon (GAC) and anionic exchange resins (AEX), demonstrating significant potential for enhancing both military readiness and environmental resilience.

1 Andrews, D. Q. & Naidenko, O. V. Population-wide exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances from drinking water in the United States. Environmental Science & Technology Letters 7, 931-936 (2020).

2 Post, G. B. Recent US State and Federal Drinking Water Guidelines for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 40, 550-563 (2021). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4863

3 Cousins, I. T., Johansson, J. H., Salter, M. E., Sha, B. & Scheringer, M. Outside the Safe Operating Space of a New Planetary Boundary for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Environmental Science & Technology 56, 11172-11179 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c02765

MATREGENIX UNVEILS NEW HEPA FILTER MEDIA WITH SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN PRESSURE DROP, SAVING ENERGY AND IMPROVING AIR QUALITY

Matregenix Inc., a leading manufacturer of nanofibrous media for air filtration and personal protection, is excited to announce the development of a new HEPA filter media that offers a significant reduction in pressure drop compared to commercial HEPA filters. This breakthrough innovation provides exceptional filtration performance while reducing energy consumption, making it an ideal solution for energy-conscious environments such as hospitals, labs, and homes.

Matregenix's proprietary nanofiber media boasts a 99.97% filtration efficiency and a pressure drop of less than 60 Pa, which is a marked improvement over commercially available filters that typically have a much higher pressure drops (100-300 Pa) and increased energy consumption. With this advancement, traditional HVAC systems can now achieve HEPA-grade filtration without any extra modifications or equipment. This new filter makes it possible for residential homes to have a HEPA filter in their HVAC system, which was not previously possible due to pressure drop constraints.

Dr. Kevin Guo, the COO of Matregenix, said "Our new HEPA filter media offers a significant reduction in pressure drop, which can help reduce energy costs for our customers while still providing exceptional air filtration performance. We are excited to offer a cost-effective solution that not only improves air quality but also contributes to a sustainable and eco-friendly environment."

The innovative use of nanofibers in Matregenix's HEPA filter media results in a smaller fiber profile that enables larger slip flow and facilitates particle collision on the surface of the fibers, thereby reducing pressure drop. This development will be of significant benefit to commercial and residential building owners who are looking for high-functioning filters that do not compromise the performance of their HVAC systems.

Matregenix HEPA filter media is lightweight, air-permeable, and PFAS-free, making it both eco-friendly and user-friendly. The company is currently looking for a commercialization partner in the filtration space to bring this revolutionary product to market.

MATREGENIX ELEVATES NANOFIBER PRODUCTION THROUGH EXPANSION INTO NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART MANUFACTURING FACILITY

Mission Viejo, California – Matregenix Inc., a pioneering technology company based in California, is thrilled to announce the expansion of its operations into a new 10,000 square foot manufacturing facility located in Mission Viejo, California. This expansion is a testament to Matregenix’s commitment to advancing the field of nanofiber and marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth.

The new facility is equipped with state-of-the-art clean rooms designed for clinical-grade manufacturing, alongside fully outfitted laboratories. Dr. Sherif Soliman, Founder and CEO of Matregenix, expressed his enthusiasm about the new expansion, stating, “Leveraging the new facility, we plan to continue enhancing our quality management system that would allow us to design, develop, manufacture and supply nanofiber biomaterials suitable for use in implantable medical devices.”

With its proprietary in-house capabilities for constructing electrospinning machines, Matregenix has equipped the new facility with multiple electrospinning machines offering diverse capabilities, with plans to add more industrial lines by the end of the year.

Dr. Soliman highlighted the company’s strategic growth: “The time has arrived for us to add capacity. Over the past years, we focused on R&D to develop new products and strengthen our IP portfolio, while simultaneously serving our customers by supplying nanofiber materials for various industrial applications. We have received significant inbound demand, and it is time to ramp up our production to be able to meet it.”

Matregenix’s expansion not only addresses the current infrastructure deficit for nanofiber production in the United States but also positions the company as the largest nanofiber supplier in the U.S. Through leveraging its in-house designed nanofiber manufacturing equipment and unique TURBO spinning technology, Matregenix is leading the way in global nanofiber innovation, supporting the growth and advancement of the industry.