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Biobased Hydrophobic Solutions for Natural Textiles—Moving Beyond PFAS
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This review explores natural-based alternatives to PFAS chemicals used in water-repellent textile coatings, evaluating materials such as natural waxes, fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and naturally occurring polymers. Researchers assessed the efficiency and durability of these bio-based substitutes as viable replacements for the persistent, bioaccumulative fluorinated compounds now recognized as environmental hazards.
In order to achieve hydrophobic properties in textiles, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are often used. These chemicals represent a class of synthetic compounds that have found wide application in numerous industries because of their advantageous properties, such as hydrophobicity, lipophobicity, chemical inertness, remarkable lubricity, non-stickiness, exceptional fire resistance, resistance to high temperatures, and high resistance to various weathering conditions. However, recent scientific research has demonstrated that these compounds possess persistent, accumulative, and highly mobile properties that make them an environmental hazard. Since the toxicity of PFAS is now recognized, ongoing research has been initiated to explore new substitutes. This comprehensive review focuses on the exploration of natural-based hydrophobic coatings for natural textiles, which include materials such as natural waxes, fatty acids, naturally occurring polymeric compounds (including proteins, carbohydrates, complex aromatic polymers, and polymers like natural rubber), and other naturally occurring substances. The role of each compound in the hydrophobic coating is also highlighted. This review aims to evaluate the potential of natural compounds as viable replacements for PFAS, focusing on their efficiency and durability.
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This review paper rounds up current research on eco-friendly coatings for disposable textiles like medical wipes and hygiene products, aiming to replace traditional treatments that rely on "forever chemicals" (PFAS) and release microplastics into water. This matters because those chemicals have been linked to health problems and don't break down in the environment, so finding plant-based, water-friendly coating alternatives could mean safer everyday products and less pollution in our water supply. The paper doesn't present new lab results but instead maps out promising materials and remaining challenges for making these safer textiles a practical reality.
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This review examines how food packaging made with PFAS ("forever chemicals") and conventional plastics can release harmful microplastics and chemicals into the food we eat. The study highlights promising bio-based alternatives made from plant-derived materials that could replace these hazardous packaging materials and reduce our daily exposure to microplastics through food.
What Do We Know About Per- or Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs)? Issues, Challenges, Regulations, and Possible Alternatives
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This review distinguishes between low-molecular-weight PFAS compounds, which are toxic, mobile, and bioaccumulative, and high-molecular-weight fluoropolymers classified as low-concern, while surveying the evolving regulatory landscape in Europe and the US and exploring potential alternatives as restrictions tighten globally.
Combined use of total fluorine and oxidative fingerprinting for quantitative determination of side-chain fluorinated polymers in textiles
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Researchers developed a combined analytical method using total fluorine measurement and oxidative fingerprinting to quantify fluorinated polymer coatings in textiles. Side-chain fluorinated polymers used in water-repellent textiles break down into persistent PFAS chemicals in the environment.
PFAS: forever chemicals—persistent, bioaccumulative and mobile. Reviewing the status and the need for their phase out and remediation of contaminated sites
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Researchers reviewed the science on PFAS — a large family of synthetic "forever chemicals" used in thousands of products — finding that they persist indefinitely in the environment, accumulate in the food chain, and damage the liver, kidneys, thyroid, and immune system even at very low exposures. The authors conclude that swapping one harmful PFAS for another is not a solution and that a full phase-out in favor of fluorine-free alternatives is necessary.
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