Until now, it was believed fluorine - the element in such products which forms a highly effective barrier between substances like air and water, making them water repellent - could not easily be replaced because of its unique properties. However, the researchers discovered that the unique ‘bulky’ attribute of fluorine, which makes it especially good at filling space, can actually be replicated in a different, non-toxic form.

The results of the discovery have been published in the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. This unpacks the chemical structure of PFAS and pinpoints the characteristic ‘bulkiness’ they sought to replicate in a safer form. It also demonstrates how non-fluorinated components, containing only non-toxic carbon and hydrogen, could be equally effective replacements.