From Nature, For Nature: Using Modified Driftwood Biochar to Treat PFAS Wastewater
CWSF · 2026 Environment & Climate Change Bronze Medal
Overview
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), otherwise known as "forever chemicals," are a group of highly stable, bioaccumulative, and toxic synthetic chemicals used in a wide range of consumer products. PFAS exposure has been linked to health risks like endocrine disruption, immune suppression, and cancer. Elevated PFAS concentrations have been reported in many of the remote communities in Canada, such as those in Arctic Indigenous regions. Often, these communities do not have access to advanced water treatment facilities, so PFAS can find their way into drinking water. To address this problem, I turned driftwood, a highly abundant material found near lakes, rivers, and oceans, into a low-cost filtration medium called biochar. Biochar is highly porous and has a large surface area, making it effective at trapping contaminants. In this project, I modified this driftwood biochar to be effective against PFAS and compared its removal capacity to a commercial Cuisinart water filter.
Awards (3)
- Special Award
- Bronze Medal
- Selected for CWSF 2026
Competition history
- CWSF 2026
Related projects
ISEF · 2025
Evaluating the Efficacy of a Novel BIOPAC Bio-Adsorbent for the Removal of Aqueous Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
ISEF · 2026
Combating "Forever Chemicals": Efficient PFAS Removal via Microbially Enhanced Biochar Sorption
CWSF · 2026
Rooting Out Pollution: A Natural Floating Wetland for Heavy Metal, Nutrients, and PFAS Remediation
ISEF · 2026
Reusable Magnetite-Activated Carbon for PFAS Removal and Destruction via Microwave Pyrolysis
Closest projects by meaning, across every fair and year in the corpus.