Plant biology provides inspiration for PFAS replacement
Forever chemicals are renowned for their durability and their non-stick properties, but they persist for years in the environment. An alternative inspired by plants doesn't have the same problem
Scientists are developing a plant-inspired coating that may replace harmful PFAS chemicals in various consumer products. PFAS, or forever chemicals, have both beneficial properties and environmental concerns due to their long-term persistence. Joshua Yuan, a chemical engineer at Washington University in St Louis, discovered that plants use a structure called suberin to transport water across long distances.
This waterproof coating is composed of greasy long-chain fatty acids and plant polymer lignin. Yuan's team created a similar coating using waste from the paper industry and animal fat, which was spray-coated onto surfaces like glass, metal, and cotton. The resulting waterproof layer self-assembled into continuous layers, offering resistance to contamination and wear, similar to the lotus effect seen in some plants.
Unlike traditional PFAS coatings, this new coating operates through a different mechanism, creating numerous tiny pockets of air that minimize direct contact with water droplets. The coating is bio-based, easily degrades in composting conditions, and leaves no harmful residues. Potential applications include food packaging, but its lower heat tolerance limits use in bakeware.
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