Inventing a new kind of plastic to remove plastic pollution from our drinking water may sound counterintuitive. But for Frank Leibfarth, PhD, it makes perfect sense. Leibfarth, an assistant professor of chemistry, invented a synthetic resin material that is highly effective in lab experiments at removing polluting chemical components known as PFAS — which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — from drinking water. Leibfarth’s polymer plastic material is so innovative that Popular Science named him to its “Brilliant 10” list in 2021. The honor recognizes early-career scientists and engineers nationwide engaged in transformative work through innovative approaches to global issues . . .
