The Ministry of University and Research (MUR) has provided more than 1 million euros in funding for the LOOP project: Fluoride Recovery from Persistent Fluoroalkyl Pollutants with Tandem Solar Paints.

The LOOP project was created to address the growing problem of environmental contamination caused by perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), synthetic compounds that, due to exceptional properties, such as a pronounced chemical inertness, are increasingly used in numerous everyday products. However, the same characteristics make these compounds extremely persistent and difficult to degrade, and therefore they have been called “eternal pollutants,” and recent studies have revealed their significant harmful effects on human health and ecosystems.

The LOOP project represents an important opportunity to mitigate the environmental impact of fluorocarbons by promoting efficient fluorine recycling and reducing dependence on unsustainable mineral resources, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Read the interview with Paola Lova, principal investigator of the project and UniGe professor of industrial chemistry in the University Magazine.