Recently, researchers at the University of California in Riverside they made an extraordinary discovery: bacteria capable of destroying super-pollutants known as Pfas. These microorganismsbelonging to the genus Acetobacteriumare commonly found in wastewater and could represent an economical solution for purifying contaminated water.
How do these bacteria work?
The Pfas, or ‘forever chemicals‘, are chemical compounds known for their extreme resistance. This resistance comes from the strong bonds between carbon and fluorine atoms present in the their molecular structure. And it is precisely This link that the bacteria identified by the team of Yujie Men they can break down thanks to specific enzymes.
Men explains: “It is the first time that a bacterium capable of acting on the fluoro-carbon bonds of PFAS has been discovered. If we can understand the mechanism, maybe we can find similar enzymes and select the most effective ones.” Bioengineering could befurthermore, improve these enzymes, making them even more efficient and capable of acting on a wider range of compounds Pfas.
A promising future for the environment
This discovery paves the way for low-cost methods for cleaning up contaminated water before they reach the wellswith a significant impact on public health and on the environment. If researchers can design new enzymes or improve existing ones as soon as discovered, it might be possible to deal with greater effectiveness the problem of super-pollutants.
Do you think this discovery will change the way we deal with water pollution? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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