The broad use of products containing per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has led to the global contamination of the environment, including soil and water. PFAS are synthetic chemicals that are extremely difficult to break down, thus new technologies are needed to eliminate these persistent chemicals in the environment.
The main objective of the Interreg Aurora funded project NeTo-PFAS is to create a sustainable and cost-effective solution for managing PFAS-contaminated groundwater that can be applied on site at the source of contamination. To address this issue, the project will build on earlier achievements and continue developing solutions to break down PFAS in soil and groundwater. The collaborative efforts of researchers in Norway, Sweden, and Finland will be undertaken by combining complementary expertise in organic chemistry, electro-oxidative and biological degradation techniques of environmental pollutants. The project has the potential to lead to the discovery of new microbial species capable of more efficiently biodegrading PFAS.
Achieving the project objectives requires dialog with a diverse range of stakeholders, the project mainly target the public sector, specifically municipalities. Municipalities play a crucial role in addressing the issue of contaminated soil and groundwater by being not only responsible for the detailed planning of land use, but also by acting both as problem owners and problem solvers.
The project results will be published in scientific publications, but also available through social media and partner websites.
Contacts:
Jurate Kumpiene, Luleå University of Technology jurate.kumpiene@ltu.se
Tiina Leiviskä, University of Oulu tiina.leiviska@oulu.fi
Annette Bayer, University in Tromsø annette.bayer@uit.no
The project has been appointed as an Operation of Strategic Importance by the Interreg Aurora Programme. This means a project which provides a significant contribution to the achievement of the objectives of the Interreg Aurora Programme.
