S2 Ep9: Can We Destroy Forever Chemicals? with Dr. Bruce Rittmann
From Not Impossible by Not Impossible Labs
December 19, 2025 · 26 min · Season 2 · Episode 9
About this episode
Mick Ebeling and Dr. Bruce Rittmann discuss the challenges and solutions related to forever chemicals and the innovative approaches to break them down.
In this episode of the Not Impossible Podcast , host and Not Impossible Labs founder Mick Ebeling sits down with Dr. Bruce Rittmann, one of the world’s most influential environmental engineers, to explore a growing global problem hiding in plain sight: forever chemicals. Also known as PFAS, these man-made compounds are used in everyday products like non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, and stain-resistant materials. They are designed to last, but that same durability means they do not naturally break down, allowing them to accumulate in water, food, and the human body. Dr. Rittmann explains how microorganisms, often overlooked by humans, can become powerful partners in addressing this challenge. By delivering electrons in the right way and using catalytic materials like palladium, his team has developed a process that does more than filter pollution or move it elsewhere. It chemically transforms some of the most persistent contaminants on Earth into compounds that can finally be broken down safely. Together, Mick and Dr. Rittmann unpack the science behind forever chemicals, the breakthrough moment that made this approach possible, and what it would take to scale this…
People in this episode
Host: Mick Ebeling
Guest: Dr Bruce Rittmann
Topics covered
- forever chemicals
- PFAS
- environmental engineering
- microorganisms
- water treatment
Keywords
- pollution
- catalytic materials
- palladium
- water contamination
Mentioned in this episode
Products: non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant materials
Places: Earth
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