Demonstration and Validation of PFAS Treatment Approaches (Web-based)
These two presentations will describe complementary technologies for the treatment and destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The first presentation will highlight a closed-loop groundwater remediation approach demonstrated at Wurtsmith Air Force Base that combines Surface Active Foam Fractionation (SAFF?) to concentrate PFAS from extracted groundwater into a small-volume foamate, followed by destruction using a Super Critical Water Oxidation (SCWO) system. SCWO uses high temperature and pressure to break carbonfluorine bonds, rapidly converting both short- and long-chain PFAS into benign byproducts such as carbon dioxide and fluoride, with treated water recycled to produce PFAS-free effluent and no residual PFAS waste. The second presentation will focus on a centralized PFAS waste destruction approach using AirSCWO", a scalable SCWO technology demonstrated to treat a variety of PFAS-containing waste streams--including foam fractionate, AFFF, spent ion exchange media, and granular activated carbon--achieving destruction and removal efficiencies ranging from 99.93% to 99.9999%. Together, the presentations highlighted SCWO as a promising technology for both on-site treatment systems and centralized facilities for effective PFAS destruction.