NDSU Researchers Find Egg Whites Can Remove Harmful Chemicals From Water

Ovalbumin protein in egg whites can bind and filter out PFAS chemicals, according to new study.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Researchers at North Dakota State University have discovered that the main protein in egg whites, known as ovalbumin, can bind to and remove harmful PFAS chemicals from drinking water. The team, led by Professor Achintya Bezbaruah, says this new use for egg whites could lead to the development of a product to filter out these chemicals, which have been linked to various health issues.

Why it matters

PFAS chemicals, developed in the 1940s, have been widely used in many products but have also been found to be harmful, causing cancers and other health problems. Finding a natural, affordable way to remove these chemicals from drinking water could have significant public health benefits.

The details

The NDSU research team discovered that the ovalbumin protein in egg whites can bind to PFAS chemicals and effectively filter them out of water. This provides a potential new application for a common food byproduct. The next step is for the researchers to develop an actual filtration product that can be brought to market.

  • The NDSU research was conducted in 2026.

The players

Achintya Bezbaruah

A professor at North Dakota State University who led the research team that discovered egg whites can remove PFAS chemicals from water.

North Dakota State University

The university where the research on using egg whites to filter PFAS was conducted.

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What they’re saying

“We discovered that the main protein in egg whites, known as ovalbumin, can bind to and remove harmful PFAS chemicals from drinking water.”

— Achintya Bezbaruah, Professor

What’s next

The researchers plan to develop an actual filtration product using the egg white protein technology to bring to market.

The takeaway

This discovery of a natural, affordable way to remove harmful PFAS chemicals from drinking water using a common food byproduct like egg whites could have significant public health benefits.