New research from Texas Tech University highlights concerns that lithium-ion batteries are a growing source of PFAS contamination in air and water. The findings highlight the need for further development of green energy infrastructure.
In the research, published in Nature Communications, the Texas Tech research team discovered bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimides (bis-FASIs) contamination at high levels in air, water, snow, soil, and sediment near manufacturing sites throughout the United States and abroad. Additionally, their data suggests that air emission of bis-FASIs could facilitate long-range transport, potentially contaminating areas far from the emission source.
Analysis of several municipal landfills in the United States demonstrated that PFAS can also enter the environment through the disposal of products such as lithium batteries.
"Our results reveal a dilemma associated with manufacturing, disposal, and recycling of clean energy infrastructure," said Guelfo, an associate professor of environmental engineering at Texas Tech University.
"Slashing carbon dioxide emissions with innovations like electric cars is critical, but it shouldn't come with the side effect of increasing PFAS pollution. We need to facilitate technologies, manufacturing controls and recycling solutions that can fight the climate crisis without releasing highly recalcitrant pollutants."
While bis-FASIs show resistance to oxidation, similar to other PFAS, data did demonstrate that its concentration in water could be reduced using activated carbon and ion exchange, methods commonly used for existing PFAS remediation efforts.
"We should harness the expertise of multi-disciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, sociologists, and policy makers to develop and promote use of clean energy infrastructure while minimizing the environmental footprint," said Lee Ferguson, associate professor of environmental engineering at Duke University.
"We should use the momentum behind current energy initiatives to ensure that new energy technologies are truly clean," Guelfo added.