Surrey project to clean up chemicals in global waters receives boost from Royal Academy of Engineering

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) comprise ultra-persistent, highly mobile and bioaccumulative pollutants that contaminate water sources. These chemicals are highly stable and very difficult to destroy. They can accumulate in people and crops, leading to health problems.

Dr Madeleine Bussemaker, Lecturer at the University of Surrey, received a RAEng Industrial Fellowship, giving her the opportunity work with Arcadis to develop a laboratory scale process using ultrasonic waves to destroy PFASs.

The Industrial Fellowship funding will be for twelve months part time and will cover Dr Bussemaker’s salary.

Dr Bussemaker said: “This is an incredible opportunity for the University of Surrey to forge stronger links with industrial partners such as Arcadis on a project that could improve the health of our planet.

“This Fellowship will allow us to develop a practical and viable solution to destroy these extremely persistent chemicals that pollute many of our water resources, and I would like to thank the Royal Academy of Engineering for their support.”