BeDimensional, a deep tech company active in the industrial production of two-dimensional crystals, and the Catalysis and Nanomaterials Laboratory, directed by Michael S. Wong at Rice University (Texas, USA), internationally recognised for excellence in PFAS-contaminated water remediation technologies, announce important scientific evidence on the performance of few-atom-layer hexagonal boron nitride (FL-hBN) in the destruction of PFAS contaminants.
The material, industrially produced by BeDimensional, has demonstrated the ability to destroy PFAS under UVC irradiation: a result of great environmental significance in light of the growing global attention to these highly persistent contaminants.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are among the most complex pollutants ever produced. Their carbon-fluorine bonds are among the strongest known in chemistry, making PFAS extremely resistant to natural degradation processes and particularly difficult to remove from aquifers, soils and drinking water resources. For years, the international scientific community has been searching for materials capable of breaking these bonds efficiently and safely.
Wong’s group at Rice University has demonstrated that BeDimensional’s FL-hBN (Few-Layer hexagonal Boron Nitride) is capable of destroying these bonds, ensuring significant PFAS degradation and high defluorination, even at low catalyst concentrations. The process does not require any particular energy, as the destruction takes place under ambient conditions.
Laboratory results confirm that FL-hBN degrades PFAS by breaking C–F bonds, allowing them to be transformed into harmless fluorine ions and small, non-hazardous molecules. This is a significant result, as non-metallic photocatalysts capable of destroying PFAS are rare, and the performance of FL-hBN outlines a promising path towards scalable and sustainable remediation solutions. Furthermore, FL-hBN has been shown to be more active than conventional hBN, highlighting the unique properties of few-atom-layer materials.
The collaboration represents a significant step forward in the development of innovative materials for the destruction of pollutants. The research benefits from BeDimensional’s ability to industrially produce high-quality, few-atom-layer materials and Rice University’s deep expertise in developing catalysts for the sustainable use and management of natural resources.
The main results of the collaboration achieved so far include: high photocatalytic performance: FL-hBN achieved 48% degradation of PFOA in 2 hours, compared to 20% for TiO₂; efficient molecular destruction of PFAS: FL-hBN achieved 35% defluorination, significantly higher than the 7% achieved by TiO₂; high intrinsic reactivity: FL-hBN showed high activity even at very low dosages in water (for example, one-fifth of the mass is already functional compared to the benchmarks of non-exfoliated hBN – 3D).
Vittorio Pellegrini, CEO of BeDimensional, commented in a statement: “The collaboration with Rice University represents an important evolution in our mission to bring advanced two-dimensional materials to strategic applications for environmental sustainability. The performance of few-atom-layer hBN in destroying PFAS demonstrates its potential to support next-generation water treatment technologies.”
Michael Wong, director of Rice PAR, adds: “Working with BeDimensional allows us to explore innovative, metal-free materials with promising catalytic properties. These results open up new opportunities for designing efficient, sustainable and scalable processes for the removal of persistent contaminants.”
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