Riken Technos and Niihama College Develop Photocatalyst Design for PFAS Degradation

Riken Technos and Niihama College, part of the National Institute of Technology (KOSEN), have developed a photocatalyst design with both strong oxidizing and reducing power that can degrade refractory organic substances such as PFAS. The design combines Type II heterojunction, Z-scheme and S-scheme charge mechanisms, built from base photocatalysts studied by Niihama College and the interface engineering and compositing expertise of Riken Technos. The parties are verifying the technology in real-world conditions and will evaluate water treatment targets including groundwater, river water, well water and industrial wastewater.

Key facts

Market context

Photocatalysts are materials that use light to drive chemical reactions, and titanium oxide is the best-known example. Conventional versions are widely used for air purification, self-cleaning coatings and water disinfection, where they generate reactive species that break down many organic contaminants. PFAS, the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a different challenge: their carbon-fluorine bonds are among the strongest in organic chemistry, so they resist ordinary oxidation and are called persistent. Water utilities, industrial wastewater operators and groundwater managers are the main buyers of treatment technology in this area, and demand for effective destruction methods tends to rise as monitoring and discharge limits tighten. Photocatalysts that combine strong oxidizing and reducing power, such as heterojunction designs, are one approach researchers pursue for these tougher targets. Advances of this kind can shift competition among material suppliers, catalyst formulators and treatment system builders.

Source: official release on rikentechnos.co.jp. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.