“There’s a lot of destruction that needs to be done,” notes Parker Bovée of Cleantech Group, a research and consulting firm, encapsulating the challenge at hand.
He is referring to PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances), commonly known as “forever chemicals”.
These synthetic compounds are prevalent in everyday items such as waterproof clothing, non-stick cookware, cosmetics, and food packaging.
Their utility lies in their grease and water repellence, but their resistance to degradation raises concerns, as they have been linked to adverse health outcomes, including elevated risks of certain cancers and reproductive issues.
The exceptional strength of their carbon-fluorine bonds allows them to persist in the environment for decades, even centuries.
While detection and removal of PFAS from water and soil is achievable, resulting in concentrated high-strength waste, the question remains: what is the optimal disposal method?
Current practices involve either expensive long-term storage, incineration (often incomplete, leading to toxic emissions), or disposal in hazardous waste landfills.
However, clean-tech companies are now introducing innovative techniques designed to effectively eliminate these persistent chemicals.
These technologies are undergoing rigorous testing in small-scale pilot projects with potential clients that include industrial manufacturers, municipal wastewater treatment plants, and even the U.S. military.
Mr. Bovée highlights the “large and growing” market potential for companies specializing in PFAS destruction.
While the market is currently concentrated in the United States, other regions are beginning to explore these solutions, he adds.
In the UK, water regulator Ofwat has provided funding for water companies to investigate PFAS destruction methods, with Severn Trent Water leading a project to evaluate potential technologies and suppliers.
A key driver of market growth in the US is legal risk. Numerous lawsuits alleging PFAS-related contamination and harm have been filed, with major chemical manufacturers, such as 3M, already paying billions in class-action settlements.
Regulatory frameworks are also becoming increasingly stringent worldwide.
Legal limits for two PFAS in drinking water are scheduled to take effect in the United States in 2031.
Mr. Bovée notes that PFAS remains a bipartisan issue, with expectations that future U.S. regulations will extend beyond drinking water to encompass industrial discharge and other sources.
The EU also has legal limits for PFAS in drinking water, which member states must begin enforcing from next year.
Various technologies are available for PFAS destruction, each with its own advantages and limitations.
According to Mr. Bovée, electrochemical oxidation (EO) technology is nearing commercial readiness.
This method involves placing electrodes in PFAS-contaminated water and applying an electric current, which breaks down the chemicals.
While energy-intensive, EO does not require high temperatures or pressures and is relatively easy to operate and integrate into existing treatment systems for concentrating PFAS, according to Mark Ralph, CEO of Canadian start-up Axine Water Technologies.
Following a successful pilot project last year, Axine Water Technologies sold its first commercial-scale unit to an automotive component producer in Michigan. The system is now operational, and the customer plans to acquire additional systems for other sites.
Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO) is another promising technology.
SCWO involves heating and pressurizing water to a supercritical state, causing the carbon-fluorine bonds in the PFAS waste stream to break down.
Chris Gannon, CEO of North Carolina-based 374Water, highlights that SCWO can process both solid and liquid PFAS waste.
He states that their technology can even destroy PFAS in plastics if they are ground up.
While SCWO systems can be expensive to purchase and maintain due to the intense process requiring a complex reactor and regular cleaning, it can be more cost-effective if the PFAS is concentrated before treatment.
The City of Orlando in Florida is currently testing 374Water’s technology at its largest wastewater treatment plant.
Alan Oyler, special projects manager for public works for the City, explains that they are proactively addressing the issue.
While PFAS levels in sewage sludge are not currently regulated, he anticipates future regulations.
Mr. Oyler reports satisfaction with the destruction capabilities observed thus far but is awaiting further data on system reliability.
The current scale of 374Water’s technology is limited, handling only a fraction of the facility’s daily wet sludge production.
However, the company is scaling up its operations, and Mr. Oyler anticipates that within a few years, the system will be able to handle all the facility’s material, “ready for when the regulations require it”.
Other technologies nearing commercial readiness include hydrothermal alkaline treatment (HALT), which uses high temperature, high pressure, and an alkaline chemical to destroy PFAS, and plasma-based technology, which employs ionized gas to degrade PFAS molecules.
However, Jay Meegoda, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, raises a potential concern: the generation of harmful PFAS degradation byproducts.
For example, EO can produce highly corrosive hydrogen fluoride vapor. He emphasizes the need for a “complete study” accounting for all inputs and outputs of each technology.
Companies have stated that they either do not produce PFAS degradation products or address them adequately.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has been an important partner for many PFAS destruction companies, providing real-world testing environments.
PFAS contamination at U.S. military sites is a significant issue, primarily stemming from the use of older firefighting foam formulations during training exercises and emergencies, as well as other routes such as the cleaning of military equipment.
More than 700 sites are known or suspected to be contaminated, posing a threat to surrounding communities. A recent court decision has cleared the way for PFAS contamination and harm lawsuits against the military.
Clean-up efforts represent an opportunity for destruction companies, with projects underway or planned at various sites to evaluate the performance and cost-effectiveness of their solutions.
Aquagga, a start-up specializing in HALT technology, recently completed a demonstration project for the DOD, destroying a firefighting foam mixture and other concentrated PFAS-containing liquids.
Immense volumes of this foam are currently stockpiled in various locations, not just at military sites.
Like others, Aquagga anticipates a significant opportunity in the coming years to destroy the foam and remediate the environmental damage associated with its use.
Beyond the military, a new PFAS waste stream is emerging: the expansion of domestic computer chip manufacturing in the US, a process that utilizes PFAS in large quantities. “We can destroy that,” says Mr. Gannon of 374Water.
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