Remediating PFAS

Innovative Technologies for Effective Treatment

Coined “forever chemicals,” per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a growing concern due to their resistance to degradation and risk to human health and the environment over time. This concern has increased widespread efforts to develop effective remediation and treatment technologies that mitigate the impact of PFAS by removing or isolating them from the environment. As the need for viable PFAS remediation strategies continues to grow, Langan remains at the forefront of the evolving science, regulations, and solutions—which are yielding some promising results.

PFAS are remarkably stable in the environment, particularly in water. Activated carbon adsorption has become one of the most widely used water treatment technologies for both the remediation of groundwater and the treatment of wastewater and drinking water. With its high surface area and porous structure, Granular Activated Carbon effectively removes PFAS from contaminated water via surface adsorption; however, it can require frequent regeneration or replacement of the carbon filtration media. Similarly, ion exchange resins have emerged as a viable option for PFAS removal. These anion exchange resins contain positively charged sites that attract and bind negatively charged PFAS molecules, effectively capturing those molecules. While ion exchange adsorbent resins can be tailored to target specific PFAS compounds, making them a versatile solution for various contamination scenarios, the disposal of spent resins remains a challenge and requires further research into sustainable disposal methods.

Other innovative and less common remediation technologies are gaining traction, including electrochemical oxidation and membrane filtration techniques such as nanofiltration and reverse osmosis. However, the energy requirements and scalability of these technologies require further investigation before they can become go-to methods. Additionally, researchers are in the experimental stage of exploring bioremediation as a potential solution, as certain microorganisms have shown the ability to degrade PFAS under specific conditions.

When evaluating remedial strategies for PFAS, it is important to consider the waste streams that may be generated because of the remediation and how to manage them effectively. While the available technologies are effective at removing PFAS from groundwater, many do not destroy the forever chemicals, requiring the need for further treatment and/or disposal. It is also important to consider the magnitude of the PFAS impacts that will be treated, as the effectiveness of some remedial technologies is affected by the PFAS concentrations present.

As the science of PFAS remediation rapidly evolves, challenges continue to arise related to each solution’s scalability, sustainability, and ability to destroy PFAS. Ultimately, the key to successfully remediating PFAS constituents is staying abreast of the latest developments while finding creative ways to apply the remedial methods that are available—and Langan is helping clients do just that.