Project Grant 2603663

The National Science Foundation Division of Chemistry awarded $543,000 to the Regents of the University of Minnesota on August 1, 2026, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) for research into organofluorine molecular design with minimized environmental persistence.

Professors William A. Arnold, Sebastian F. Behrens, William C.K. Pomerantz, and Sapna Sarupria are developing experimental and computational approaches to define the organofluorine chemical space for products that balance utility with reduced environmental impact. The research team will use 19F nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations to assess which fluorinated structures fully degrade, then develop bio-inspired, degradable fluorinated sorbents for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The work will determine whether stable fluorinated byproducts form through chemical or biological oxidation of heterocycles with various fluorinated functional groups, enabling identification of molecular structures to avoid or prefer in developing new bioactive synthetic molecules. The effort will generate molecular design principles to optimize fluorine utility while limiting environmental persistence and human health impacts, and will create a new option for removing PFAS from water.

The research runs through July 31, 2029, and takes place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Beyond advancing chemical design practices for industry and environmental practitioners, the project includes training for graduate and undergraduate students and engagement with K-12 students on environmental science and water issues through institutional summer programs.