A groundbreaking research initiative at Georgia Tech could lead to safer drinking water, free of toxic PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), commonly known as “forever chemicals.” With machine learning (ML) technology, researchers are developing advanced membranes capable of efficiently filtering out PFAS from water sources.
These persistent chemicals, found in everyday products such as nonstick cookware, food packaging, and cosmetics, have infiltrated water, soil, and food supplies, posing long-term health risks, including immune system suppression and increased cancer risk.
Georgia Tech’s Cutting-Edge PFAS Removal Research
Leading the initiative is Yongsheng Chen, Professor in Georgia Tech’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director of the NEW Center. Chen and his team are part of a multi-university effort, supported by over $10 million in funding from the USDA, NSF, and EPA.
Why Conventional Water Treatment Fails
Traditional water treatment methods fail to remove PFAS, and even contribute to secondary contamination. For example, chlorine-based disinfection methods often generate harmful byproducts rather than solving the issue.
“Solving one problem creates another,” Chen explained. “We need a completely new approach to PFAS filtration.”
How Machine Learning is Transforming Membrane Research
Chen’s team, in collaboration with University of Wisconsin-Madison (UWM) and Arizona State University (ASU), used machine learning (ML) and molecular simulations to design more effective filtration membranes.
- ASU provided scientific literature and lab data to train the ML model.
- UWM conducted molecular simulations to validate filtration predictions.
The ML model drastically accelerated membrane discovery, identifying eight potential candidates in a matter of months—a process that previously took years through traditional trial-and-error methods.
Tackling PFAS Contamination in Agriculture
Beyond drinking water, PFAS pollution has severely impacted agriculture. Contaminated wastewater biosolids are often repurposed as fertilizers, leading to the spread of PFAS on nearly 70 million acres of U.S. farmland.
The USDA hopes this research will lead to:
✅ Safer wastewater-derived fertilizers for farmers.
✅ Reduced PFAS contamination in livestock and crops.
✅ A sustainable circular economy, ensuring water and nutrient reuse while eliminating harmful chemicals.
What’s Next?
The Georgia Tech team plans to fine-tune their model, synthesize membranes in the lab, and test their effectiveness in removing PFAS—especially short-chain PFAS, which remain difficult to eliminate.
This pioneering research could reshape water treatment, agriculture, and public health, offering hope for a future free from forever chemicals. More Information