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German Study Achieves Near-Complete PFAS Breakdown via Plasma

8/8/2026

Summary

Story summary

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf in Germany developed hydrodynamic cavitation and cold atmospheric plasma methods that break down PFAS and release fluoride.
The study found that hydrodynamic cavitation removed about 37 percent of PFOS and cold atmospheric plasma almost completely degraded PFAS, releasing roughly 35 percent of fluorine as salts.
Researchers plan to combine plasma and cavitation to exceed 80 percent PFAS degradation, mineralize over 50 percent of fluorine, and limit energy use.

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Story summary

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf in Germany developed hydrodynamic cavitation and cold atmospheric plasma methods that break down PFAS and release fluoride.
The study found that hydrodynamic cavitation removed about 37 percent of PFOS and cold atmospheric plasma almost completely degraded PFAS, releasing roughly 35 percent of fluorine as salts.
Researchers plan to combine plasma and cavitation to exceed 80 percent PFAS degradation, mineralize over 50 percent of fluorine, and limit energy use.