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Research Project: Development of novel assays for PFAS pollutant compounds for incorporation into in-situ lab-on-chip sensors for freshwater environmental monitoring.
Lead Supervisor: Professor Simon Lewis
External Partner: Clearwater Sensors

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are molecules that repel grease, oil and water, and are chemically and thermally inert (leading them to be known as so-called “forever chemicals”). They were first used in the 1940s and are now in hundreds of products including stain- and water-resistant fabrics and carpeting, cleaning products, paints, cookware and fire-fighting foams. The widespread use of PFAS and their persistence in the environment means that PFAS from past and current uses have resulted in increasing levels of contamination of the air, water, and soil. They are emerging environmental contaminants of health concern (e.g. perfluorooctanesulfonate is an IARC classified Class 2B carcinogen), and within the field of environmental science there is a significant need for improved monitoring techniques to detect and quantify PFAS.

This project seeks to design and synthesise colorimetric and/or fluorescent chemosensors for the detection of PFAS, that is to say, organic molecules which will respond to the presence of PFAS by exhibiting a change in colour/ fluorescence that can then be detected. The ultimate aim of the project would be to deploy such a chemosensor molecule a “Lab-on-Chip” microfluidic system such as that commercialized by ClearWater Sensors (the industry partner) for autonomous sensing.

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