To date, so-called forever-chemicals like polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) are almost biologically undegradable, due to their strong carbon-flourine bonds. Well-known measures like activated carbon adsorption, ion exchange or reverse osmosis are able to retain the substances, but not to destroy them.
Allonnia’s CEO Nicole Richards, who previously led growth and strategy for DuPont’s water solutions business, believes that synthetic biology is a more relevant and potentially more complete solution to tackle the problem. The company aims at creating tailored enzymes, proteins, and microbes that degrade or metabolize contaminants of concern.
Besides water and wastewater treatment, the biological solutions are intended be applied in soil redemption, solid waste management and for recovering and upcycling valuable materials from waste.
Arendsee gibt 10.500 Jahre alte Holzfunde frei
Bei unterwasserarchäologischen Untersuchungen im Arendsee haben Forschende außergewöhnlich gut erhaltene, bis zu 10.500 Jahre alte Hölzer entdeckt. Die Funde könnten von bislang unbekannten Konstruktionen aus der Mittelsteinzeit stammen und neue Erkenntnisse über die Lebensweise damaliger Jäger und Sammler liefern.
