We sat down with Dr. Jaroslav Moško, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS, to unpack one of Europe’s most pressing environmental challenges: the pervasive threat of PFAS, or “forever chemicals.” These synthetic compounds, found in everything from firefighting foams to textiles, are infamous for their extreme persistence in the environment, thanks to unbreakable carbon-fluorine bonds. But their durability comes at a steep cost—exposure to PFAS is estimated to burden EU countries with €54-82 billion annually in health-related expenses.
Recent investigations by Le Monde have identified over 23,000 contaminated sites across Europe, underscoring the urgency of addressing this crisis. From agricultural lands to remote ecosystems, PFAS accumulation poses risks to both human health and environmental integrity.
Dr. Moško’s team is exploring how pyrolysis—a process that transforms organic materials into biochar—could offer a sustainable solution for destroying PFAS in sewage sludge. Their work highlights the critical intersection of innovation, policy, and environmental stewardship needed to tackle these indestructible pollutants.
As a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS, Dr. Moško and his team focus on PFAS persistence and exploring pyrolysis as a method to remove PFAS from sewage sludge. Without intervention, an estimated 4.4 million tonnes of PFAS could enter global systems by 2050.
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are significant accumulation points for PFAS due to their role in collecting water—and pollutants—from various sources. In developed countries, the resulting sewage sludge, a by-product of wastewater treatment, often contains PFAS concentrations ranging from hundreds to thousands of ng/g dry weight (nanograms per gram of dry weight).
When this sludge is directly applied to agricultural soils as fertiliser, it creates a pathway for PFAS to enter the human food chain. Additional sources of soil and water contamination include leachates from landfills and the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams, further amplifying environmental and health risks. Despite ongoing research, gaps in data complicate the establishment of comprehensive toxicological guidelines, prompting policymakers to adopt regulations in response to new findings.
Thermochemical process during pyrolysis not only transforms waste into valuable products like biochar but also destroys harmful contaminants when operated under specific conditions. At temperatures above 400°C, PFAS undergo thermal degradation, with efficiency shaped by factors such as reactor design, biomass residence time, and the reaction atmosphere. Additionally, proper treatment of syngas ensures any short-chain PFAS are neutralized, making pyrolysis a sustainable option for waste treatment and pollutant removal.
