# Electrochemical Synthesis of Isolated Fluoride Reagents from PFAS

## TL;DR

This paper introduces an electrochemical method to convert harmful PFAS chemicals into useful fluoride reagents, promoting environmental sustainability.

## Contribution

The study presents a novel electrochemical strategy for recycling nonpolymeric PFAS into isolable fluoride reagents.

## Key findings

- Electrochemistry can selectively generate fluoride or bifluoride ions based on electrolyte and solvent choice.
- The method enables the transformation of PFAS waste into valuable chemical resources.
- This approach supports a circular economy by recovering fluoride from PFAS decomposition.

## Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are of increasing
concern
due to their environmental persistence and adverse effects on health.
The recovery of fluoride from the decomposition of concentrated sources
of PFAS (e.g., refrigerants, protective coatings, and foams) enables
a circular economy. Recent efforts have largely focused on one-pot,
transfer fluorination strategies, with limited examples of forming
isolable fluoride reagents, which represent the broadest opportunities
for valorization. Here, we establish a direct electrochemical strategy
to recycle nonpolymeric PFAS into a range of synthetically important
fluoride reagents. The choice of electrolyte and solvent is critical
in controlling whether fluoride or bifluoride ions are generated,
enabling selective access to distinct reagents. These findings establish
electrochemistry as a powerful and versatile platform for transforming
environmentally persistent PFAS waste into valuable chemical resources.