This page was printed from https://specialtyfabricsreview.com

Bacteria “eat” PFAS, PFOS, research finds

Swatches | July 1, 2025 | By: ATA

Diana Aga (left) and her doctoral student, Minduala Wijayahena, researchers working on PFAS, in a lab
Diana Aga (left) and her doctoral student, Minduala Wijayahena, are working on research to demonstrate a specific bacteria’s biodegradation of a ”forever” chemical. Image: University at Buffalo/Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

Bacteria may be able to take the “forever” out of some of the so-called “forever chemicals” PFAS and PFOS, according to work done by researchers at the University at Buffalo.

Labrys portucalensis F11 bacteria metabolized more than 90% of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in 100 days. The F11 bacteria also broke down a substantial portion of two additional types of PFAS after 100 days: 58% of 5:3 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid and 21% of 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate. But the organisms did not stop at longer-chain compounds. The bacteria continued to remove or break down shorter-chain chemicals and fluorine. At 194 days, additional PFOS fluorine had been eliminated. 

Doctoral student Minduala Wijayahena in front of two computer monitors on her desk and a huge one on the wall above her. The screens have graphs on them with the screen on the wall combining the graphs on the monitors on the desk.
Doctoral student Minduala Wijayahena, who is working with Diana Aga on research to demonstrate a bacteria’s biodegradation of a “forever” chemical. Image: University at Buffalo/Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

According to director of the UB RENEW Institute and study co-author Diana Aga, Ph.D.,  bacteria that survive in polluted soil may have adapted to break down contaminants to use them as a food source. The strain used in this study has been known to strip fluorine from pharmaceutical contaminants but had not previously been tested on PFAS.

One caveat is that there were no other carbon sources available for the bacteria to eat, so further research will include other sources alongside PFAS food sources.

Science of the Total Environment published the study in January.

Share this Story