31 AUGUST 2024 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Patented Technology Destroys Forever Chemicals Adapted from Information by National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science The nanobubble ozone technology, or NBOT, coupled with ultraviolet (UV) light, is now a U.S. patent-protected process useful in destroying the forever chemicals per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS). These harmful chemicals are present in most drinking water sources and cannot be filtered out with traditional treatment systems. This newly patented technology is scalable and configurable, opening the door for municipal water treatment facilities to implement the system to meet highvolume needs. The nanobubbles in NBOT are ultrafine microbubbles scientists impregnate with a compound (ozone in this instance) and release into an environment. Ozone is a highly reactive molecule composed of three oxygen elements. Its unstable nature allows it to react with, and bond to, other molecules, breaking up the toxic bonds and forming new stable bonds within the environment where it is released. This process has proven successful in controlling algae, bacteria, and zooplankton onboard ships. For the purpose of destroying PFAS, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) scientists have built upon the NBOT process. Ozone on its own is not strong enough to break the bonds of PFAS compounds, which are composed of carbon and fluorine - the strongest bond in organic chemistry. Scientists apply properly tuned UV light as an added energy source coupled to NBOT to destroy the carbon-fluorine bond. Once broken, fluorine bonds to itself, creating fluorine gas, while carbon bonds to oxygen, creating carbon dioxide gas. Both release into the air as nontoxic gasses. NCCOS scientists are working with the American Marine University Research Institute which provides the equipment needed to accompany the scientific expertise to accomplish this task. The team has plans to begin a pilot project to apply the technology at a large-scale facility. NBOT proved useful for large-scale efforts such as returning Ohio’s Lake Newport to a healthy state in just ten days. WTR
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