- Scientists at Rice University have created a new water filter that can remove harmful “forever chemicals” much faster and more effectively than current options.
- The filter uses layers of special materials that attract and trap these chemicals, cleaning water from taps, rivers, and even wastewater.
- The technology isn’t available yet, but experts hope it will help make drinking water safer in the future; for now, using a good home water filter and avoiding nonstick pans can help reduce exposure.
Researchers at Rice University’s Water Institute believe they may have found a solution to our forever chemical problem, at least when it comes to our water.
In late 2025, a team of researchers published their findings in the journal Advanced Materials, demonstrating a new approach to capturing per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances, also known as “forever chemicals,” which persist for extended periods.
These chemicals are manmade and have been widely used in consumer products since the 1950s. Food & Wine previously cited the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC), which explained that these chemicals are widely used in consumer goods because they “impart oil, water, stain, and soil repellency,” as well as “thermal stability and friction reduction.” Essentially, anything moisture-wicking or nonstick is likely coated with the stuff.
Researchers and health experts have identified these chemicals as potentially harmful to human health in various ways, including altering cholesterol levels and impairing the immune system. It’s important to note that much of the science is ongoing; however, study after study is showing similar results regarding their impact on health.
So, how can this new technology developed by Rice University researchers help?
According to the team, they developed a new filtration technique that uses a layered “double hydroxide (LDH) material,” made from copper and aluminum, which can capture PFAS about “100 times faster than commercial carbon filters.”
“To my astonishment, this LDH compound captured PFAS more than 1,000 times better than other materials,” Youngkun Chung, a postdoctoral fellow and the study’s lead author, said. “It also worked incredibly fast, removing large amounts of PFAS within minutes, about 100 times faster than commercial carbon filters.”
As for why it works so well, the team explained that it’s all thanks to the filter’s “internal structure,” in which the layers create “slight charge imbalances” that cause the PFAS molecules to bind with “both speed and strength.”
They even put this filter to the test with river water, tap water, and wastewater to assess its performance. In each case, they found it to be “highly effective,” and the team hopes to have their filter incorporated into both drinking and wastewater facilities one day.
“We are excited by the potential of this one-of-a-kind LDH-based technology to transform how PFAS-contaminated water sources are treated in the near future,” Michael S. Wong, a professor and department chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Rice University, added. “It’s the result of an extraordinary international collaboration and the creativity of young researchers.”
While this technology may still be a bit far on the horizon, there are ways you can reduce PFAS in your water right now, including using one of these water filters, which also filter out microplastics, making them a sound investment until we can get them out of waterways for good. And if you really want to go the distance, you may want to replace that nonstick pan with PFAS-free cookware, too.
