Development of a portable 19F NMR device for the online detection of PFAS in waste water

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals used since the mid-20th century for their heat, water, and oil resistance [1]. They are found in many products, including cookware, textiles, firefighting foams, packaging, and cosmetics. Their extensive use has caused global contamination of water, soil, and living organisms. Due to their strong carbon–fluorine bonds, PFAS are extremely persistent and are known as “forever chemicals.” Exposure has been linked to serious health issues such as liver damage, fertility problems, immune suppression, hormonal disruption, and cancer. Governments are responding with stricter regulations: France will ban PFAS in certain products by 2026, and Germany advocates tighter industrial controls. These efforts support EU strategies like the Water Framework Directive and the Zero Pollution Action Plan. There is thus a growing need for compact, low-cost, and sensitive PFAS monitoring technologies. The Wa2MoS project aims to address this by combining ICube’s electronic and NMR expertise with HFU’s microsystems know-how to develop a portable NMR-based monitoring solution [2-4]. More particularly, this PhD project aims at adapting an existing portable NMR system to the detection of PFAS via 19F NMR.

Project description

NMR measurement consists of acquiring the FID, i.e., the electromagnetic wave resulting from the relaxation of atomic spins which are subjected to a strong static magnetic field

Le laboratoire rassemble à parts égales deux communautés scientifiques à l’interface entre le monde numérique et le monde physique, lui donnant ainsi une configuration unique.

Avec près de 650 membres, il est une force de recherche majeure du site de Strasbourg. Fédéré par l'imagerie, ICube a comme champs d'application privilégiés l'ingénierie pour la santé, l'environnement et le développement durable.

We are looking for student with a master in electrical engineering, microelectronics or instrumentation.

The official kick-off of the project is in April 2026 so the PhD may start from April 1st 2026. However, we can also imagine to host the candidate to complete a Master Thesis before the beginning of the PhD