On-Site Destruction of PFAS-Impacted Liquids

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used extensively for DoD firefighting applications due to their thermochemical stability and unique properties. PFAS are recalcitrant environmental pollutants and bioaccumulative toxins, presenting DoD installations with significant environmental compliance and remediation challenges. The most significant PFAS issues are a direct result of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) discharge for fire training activities. The US Air Force began using AFFF in 1970, with an estimated 200+ installations in the U.S. suspected to have AFFF releases. This has resulted in 190+ Remedial Investigations (RIs) and >$800M in total expenditures to-date on PFAS-related actions. DoD-wide costs related to PFAS response are estimated at >$2B for FY 2021 with increasing future costs. AquaggaÆs continuous flow hydrothermal alkaline treatment (HALT) systems are proven to destroy PFAS safely and effectively in a variety of liquid matrices. In this Phase II project, a mobile HALT system will be deployed at two Air Force Bases for demonstrations of on-site treatment and disposal of PFAS-impacted liquids. Performance metrics will be quantified, including destruction, energy use, throughput, and cost. The proposed efforts seek to demonstrate: (i) high PFAS destruction efficacy on two USAF problem sets representative of a broader nationwide challenge, (ii) the ability to meet emerging regulations for PFAS treatment and discharge, (iii) the HALT technology can be easily mobilized to DoD installations for on-site treatment of PFAS-rich wastes, and (iv) quantification of system scale-up and operational costs.