Portable device enables on-site PFAS detection in water
Researchers have created a low-cost, portable platform using screen-printed electrodes and molecularly imprinted polymers to detect harmful 'forever chemicals' in water on the spot, offering a potential alternative to lab testing.
A portable device using screen-printed electrodes can now detect PFAS in water on-site. Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology developed the low-cost platform to identify per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances without needing a specialized laboratory.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals resistant to degradation. They accumulate in water, soil, and living organisms, earning the name 'forever chemicals'. Over 10,000 PFAS chemicals exist, with 50 to 150 regulated globally. The new prototype is configured to detect two common representatives: PFOS and PFOA.
The platform is compact and designed for easy manufacturing. For the prototype, the team screen-printed 100 disposable electrodes onto repurposed fabric in several hours. The technology is low-cost and easy to mass-produce, supporting broader environmental monitoring.
How the device works
The system uses molecularly imprinted polymers coated onto fabric electrodes. These MIPs are designed to bind to target PFAS molecules. They are formed around the required substance, which is then removed to create a structure that can recognize and capture it again.
Detection is based on measuring changes in electrical current when PFAS binds to the sensor. A larger change corresponds to a higher concentration of substances in a water sample. No additional chemical reagents are required for measurement.
The electrodes were coated with PFAS-specific MIPs and connected to commercially available potentiostats. These can be plugged directly into a smartphone or laptop for readout.
Validation and performance
The prototype was tested on fresh and drinking water artificially doped with PFOA and PFOS. Detected concentrations closely matched the actual concentrations in the tested water. The device is capable of detecting extremely small concentrations of PFAS.
In Japan, both PFOA and PFOS are regulated at 50 picograms per milliliter. The study demonstrates combining synthetic molecular recognition with low-cost electrochemical devices for ultrasensitive PFAS detection. Dr. Mark Sullivan from the Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics Unit at OIST was involved in the research.
"Our goal is to develop a sensitive, low-cost technology that can eventually be used outside specialized laboratories," said Dr. Mark Sullivan. The device enables regulators and environmental actors to detect PFAS on the spot without transporting samples to labs.
Broader potential and next steps
The MIP manufacturing method is modular. This allows the target molecule to be replaced, enabling adaptation to other PFAS compounds beyond the two initially tested. The research was described in the journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics.
Dr. Perrine Lasserre said the system empowers local agencies or families to make informed decisions about PFAS contamination. Professor Amy Shen noted that accurate and accessible detection is a key step forward.
"Accurate and accessible detection is an important step toward addressing PFAS contamination," said Professor Amy Shen. The technology requires further development and field validation before widespread deployment.
