Science Daily May 27, 2020
To find out whether molecular cages could help trap PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl) a team of researchers in the US (SUNY Buffalo) screened about a dozen different types of self-assembling cages that contain metals. This process led the team to the iron-based cages, which captured a subset of PFAS with chains of six or more fluorinated carbon atoms, including perfluorocarboxylic acids, sulfonic acids and fluorotelomers. Through analysis they found that the PFAS stick strongly to the outside of the cages instead of getting caught inside. The study gives scientists new knowledge that could help them make experimental improvements to the cages. By tweaking the cages’ building blocks, researchers could potentially create structures that bind more strongly with PFAS, sponge up additional varieties of the pollutants, or even destroy the chemicals…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Abstract. Credit: Inorg. Chem. 2020, 59, 10, 6697–6708, January 7, 2020