Granular adsorbent targets micro-pollutants

Micro-pollutants, which also include high performance chemicals and heavy metals, only make up a small proportion of overall pollution but can be extremely difficult to deal with using existing treatment processes, rendering freshwater unusable.

The new granular adsorbent, developed by Imperial College London spin-out CustoMem, is capable of binding and removing a range of micro-pollutants, including Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs).

These pollutants, which are highly toxic to humans and animals, are used in Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFFs) used for firefighting, and can also be found in fluoropolymer-coated cookware, sports clothing, and medical equipment.

The adsorbent, known as CustoMem Granular Media (CGM), is a nanocellulose-based material, according to Shayne Petkiewicz, business development manager at CustoMem.

The material can selectively capture micro-pollutants ten times faster than traditional adsorbent materials such as anion-exchange media and granular activated carbon, he said. It can also adsorb two times more pollutant, and once saturated can be regenerated more than five times.