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IBM has developed and implemented an artificial intelligence-powered PFAS screener tool that helps identify and eliminate fluorochemicals from its research operations, according to a June 13 blog post.
Dubbed the Safer Materials Advisor, the technology also suggests alternatives the company can use in place of “forever chemicals,” if there are viable substitutes available.
While the screener cannot guarantee the product is PFAS-free, it reduces errors and frees up IBM employees’ time to do other tasks, Angela Hutchinson, a chemical coordinator at IBM Research’s headquarters in Yorktown, New York, said in the blog post.
Hutchinson is tasked with reviewing chemical requests related to research being conducted at IBM’s internal lab. Researchers within the company submit chemical requests linked to research IBM’s lab, from semiconductors to quantum computing.
Usually, chemical coordinators must review each chemical request, which consists of reviewing a substance safety data sheet. The sheet contains a chemical’s data, including toxicity, procedures for spills and leaks, storage guidelines, first-aid and firefighting measures and regulatory information, according to the University of California San Diego.
They must also check that the chemicals are not restricted or banned within the company, or on the local, state or federal level.
The Safety Materials Advisor can put the chemical through up to three screenings to provide the same information, which also helps find alternatives for other toxic substances. The AI-powered tool can be adapted to new hazardous chemicals.
IBM Research has been leveraging AI and advanced computing for years to make data processing more sustainable, in part, through its AI family of models for materials research, according to the blog post.
The PFAS screener tool was accelerated with the launch of “PFACTS,” a collaboration led by IBM Research and involving Cornell University, Digital Science, Numat and the University of Pittsburgh. The ongoing project was funded by the National Science Foundation in December 2023 and developed a resource for anyone seeking to replace, redesign or remediate forever chemicals.
In March, the group launched pfasID, an open-source screening tool hosted by ChemForward, a science non-profit that supports collaboration for safer chemistry. The web-based tool helps companies, researchers and policymakers simplify the process of identifying fluorochemicals, according to a March press release. The screener’s process includes assessing multiple PFAS definitions, generating reports for supply chain partners as well as access to the company’s entire supply chain.