They’re in your nonstick pans, your takeout containers, even your drinking water. PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have earned the nickname “forever chemicals” because they linger in the environment and the human body for decades. Now, scientists from Oxford University and other leading institutions may be turning the tide. New breakthroughs show it's possible not only to destroy PFAS but to recycle parts of them safely. For households worried about toxic exposure and long-term health risks like cancer, this research signals a major shift: eliminating PFAS may finally be within reach.
A Smarter Way to Break Down PFAS
A research team from Oxford University and Colorado State University may have discovered a chemical game-changer. By using a process called mechanical ball milling—which crushes materials under pressure—they’ve figured out how to break the notoriously strong carbon-fluorine bonds that make PFAS so persistent. But they didn’t stop there. Rather than just destroying the chemicals, they found a way to recover valuable fluoride ions in the process. These ions can be reused to produce new industrial materials, resulting in less waste, lower costs, and safer production overall.
“This method recovers valuable fluoride while breaking toxic bonds, with no high heat or exotic solvents,” explained Dr. Claire Hawkins, one of the lead researchers from Oxford. That matters because it avoids the dangers of incineration and chemical sludge, offering a cleaner, more efficient path to PFAS removal. It’s early days, but this approach could turn PFAS from a forever problem into a closed-loop solution.
Not One Fix, But a Toolbox: New Methods to Break Down PFAS
Other scientists are pursuing different strategies—and they’re gaining traction fast. In a recent report from The Washington Post, researchers explored a growing list of PFAS destruction techniques, including supercritical water oxidation and hydrothermal alkaline treatment (HALT), as well as UV light and ultrasonic wave applications. Each method targets PFAS molecules differently, depending on their structure and concentration.
“No single technology fits all PFAS,” said Professor Christopher Higgins of the Colorado School of Mines. “We need a toolbox approach.” That means the path forward isn’t one-size-fits-all, but that’s good news. It shows that a growing ecosystem of scientists, engineers, and innovators is working in tandem to outsmart these chemicals on multiple fronts.
Cleaner, Safer, and More Affordable Solutions Are Emerging
One of the biggest challenges with PFAS removal has always been cost. Traditional methods, such as high-temperature incineration and industrial-scale filtration, are expensive, energy-intensive, and sometimes hazardous. But that’s changing. New techniques, like the Oxford fluoride recovery method or low-temperature chemical processes, are not only safer—they’re far more scalable.
“We’re destroying these using low-temperature processes instead of tons of energy,” said Dr. William Dichtel, a chemist at Northwestern University. These new methods don’t just work in the lab—they hold real promise for contaminated communities where water systems or soil may already be affected. Faster, cheaper deployment means more people can benefit sooner, and public health can begin to recover.
A New Way to Break the Bonds: How Fluoride Recycling Works
Why a mechanical breakthrough matters for your health and your home
Until now, most PFAS disposal methods (such as incineration) have posed environmental risks or consumed significant energy. But scientists at the University of Oxford and Colorado State University have developed a simpler, more sustainable method to destroy these so-called “forever chemicals.” In a March 2025 study published in Nature, researchers detailed a new process called ball milling, a mechanical technique that utilizes steel balls and potassium phosphate salts to break apart the carbon-fluorine bonds in PFAS compounds.
Why does that matter? Those bonds are what make PFAS so durable — and so dangerous. Breaking them not only neutralizes the health risks but also liberates fluoride ions that can be recycled and reused in industrial chemistry. Dr. Claire Hawkins, a lead researcher on the Oxford team, told Science Focus, “This method recovers valuable fluoride while breaking toxic bonds—with no high heat or exotic solvents.”
For the average consumer, this could mean less PFAS-contaminated water, safer waste management in your city, and more sustainable chemistry practices overall. The method is also relatively low-cost and adaptable to multiple waste streams, giving it the potential to scale quickly, especially in municipal or industrial settings where PFAS contamination is common.
The Expanding PFAS “Destruction Toolbox”
Multiple approaches aim to clean up contaminated water faster, safer, and more affordably.
While the Oxford study offers one promising breakthrough, it’s far from the only innovation underway. Around the world, researchers are developing a growing toolkit of methods to safely and permanently break down PFAS.
A recent Washington Post investigation profiled several such efforts, including supercritical water oxidation, ultraviolet light-assisted chemical degradation, hydrothermal alkaline treatment (HALT), and even high-frequency sound waves. Each technique targets different types of PFAS or functions in distinct environmental conditions, like water treatment plants, military bases, or manufacturing zones.
According to Professor Christopher Higgins, an environmental chemist at the Colorado School of Mines, the solution won’t be one-size-fits-all. “No single technology fits all PFAS. We need a toolbox approach,” he explained. This modularity is critical for communities dealing with varying PFAS sources, whether from firefighting foam runoff or long-term consumer product waste.
Importantly, these tools are moving away from older, energy-intensive methods of destruction, such as incineration. Dr. William Dichtel, a chemist at Northwestern University, noted in The Washington Post that newer techniques are “destroying these [chemicals] using low-temperature processes instead of tons of energy.” That shift doesn’t just save money — it avoids secondary pollution that can harm local air and water quality.
Together, these emerging methods represent not just technical progress, but a strategic pivot: from managing PFAS exposure to actively erasing it from our environments.
Conclusion
The science of breaking down PFAS is no longer theoretical — it’s actionable, and it's here. New methods, such as fluoride recovery and low-energy destruction, offer not just cleanup but a clearer path forward. These technologies could transform how we manage contamination and mitigate risk, particularly as regulatory scrutiny and public concern continue to intensify. But innovation alone won’t solve the PFAS problem. It will take investment, implementation, and individual awareness to ensure these advances move from the lab into our communities. Together, science and strategy may finally bring an end to the era of forever chemicals.
Sources
Discover What Grows Wealth with Minimum Effort & Minimum Risk
