Jordan Poler’s research on water filtration and removing PFAS highlighted

Jordan C. Poler, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, discussed his innovations to remove harmful and forever chemicals from drinking water with the Costal Review. Poler’s research is funded in part by a grant from NC Innovation.

The purification system developed by the Poler Research Group cleans per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, and other toxins such as pesticides, heavy metals and pharmaceuticals from drinking water at the point of use, such as the refrigerator filter for tap water or in well water systems. The filtration utilizes ion exchange with sustainable, regenerable materials, which can remove chemicals even at very low concentrations.

“It’s very hard to remove things at extremely low concentrations,” Poler said. “That’s why PFAS is such a challenge because it bioaccumulates. You can be drinking this water for years and then these problems creep in. So, ion exchange is, I think, the way to go,” Poler said.

Read the full article at the Coastal Review.

The article was also republished in NC Health News.