The University of Manchester and Lydall Industrial Filtration (EMEA) Limited KTP 24_25 R4

A new partnership between the University of Manchester and Lydall Industrial Filtration will develop filter materials that strip harmful "forever chemicals" out of wastewater before it reaches rivers and drinking water supplies. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of thousands of synthetic chemicals used in non-stick coatings, waterproof fabrics, firefighting foams, and industrial processes. They are called "forever chemicals" because they do not break down in the environment. PFAS have been linked to cancer, liver damage, and immune system problems, and they now contaminate water sources across the UK and globally. Current filtration methods are often too slow, too expensive, or ineffective at removing the full range of PFAS compounds. The project aims to create novel filtration media that can be manufactured at industrial scale and integrated into existing water treatment systems. If successful, the technology could help water companies, industrial sites, and waste treatment facilities remove PFAS from their discharge streams more efficiently and at lower cost. This would reduce the amount of these persistent chemicals entering the environment and eventually reaching people's taps. The collaboration combines academic expertise in materials science with Lydall's industrial filtration manufacturing capabilities, moving the technology from the lab toward commercial deployment.