Industrial PFAS removal
About
Finding PFAS in the environment – in air emissions, water or soil – is a huge concern globally. For industry, it’s a challenge that companies must now tackle head-on. DESOTEC provides reliable, flexible solutions to eliminate PFAS pollution permanently and sustainably.
What are PFAS?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of thousands of synthetic Restricted Chemicals. They may be short-chain or long-chain depending on the number of atoms they contain.
PFAS are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), or ‘forever chemicals’, of which longer-chain PFAS are especially persistent. PFAS bioaccumulate in the environment, water, plants, and animals, where they enter the human food chain and our drinking water systems. Many are carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR).
Two of the most common long-chain PFAS are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). They are now restricted or banned, but are still widely found in the environment due to historic usage.
DESOTEC’s mobile activated carbon filtration solutions remove and destroy PFAS to below detection level, for good, protecting our environment and health.
PFAS: a global problem
PFAS chemicals were developed to make products that resist heat, flame, grease, stains and water, such as firefighting foam, food packaging, non-stick cooking pans, make-up, waterproof clothing, cable insulation, sealants and many other goods.
This huge range of uses, plus PFAS’ persistence, means they are found in water and soil just about everywhere: there are some 17,000 known PFAS contamination sites in Europe alone, and many more across the world.
Their highest concentration is in the ground and groundwater at former and current industrial sites, due to chemical spills and leaks.
Rigorous controls are now in place globally to prevent PFAS from entering the environment through wastewater and air emissions from industries using these chemicals, or from rainwater and leachate water at landfill sites where goods containing PFAS have been dumped.
DESOTEC provides activated carbon solutions to remove and eliminate PFAS from air and water, ensuring a cleaner, healthier environment.
PFAS regulations
PFAS are regulated across the world by the Stockholm Convention, as well as regional and national legislation.
- European Union: Under the European Chemical Agency’s (ECHA) POPs Regulation from 2019, even very small concentrations of PFAS require treatment: e.g. the Drinking Water Directive includes a limit of 0.5 µg/l for all PFAS. Many countries mandate that if historic PFAS contamination is found during building works, the groundwater and soil must be remediated.
- USA: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates PFAS. While legislation is behind that of the EU, it is currently being tightened under the PFAS Strategic Roadmap.
DESOTEC has the expertise and technology to remove and eliminate PFAS to below detectable levels, in compliance with the POPs Regulation.
Removing and eliminating PFAS for good
Activated carbon filtration is recognised as a Best Available Technology (BAT) for PFAS treatment in the POPs Regulation. DESOTEC’s filtration solutions may be used to purify air emissions or water.
At DESOTEC, we don’t just remove PFAS from customers’ sites – we destroy it for good (below detectable levels), making our solution sustainable.
In order to find the most sustainable and effective purification solutions for our customers, DESOTEC’s R&D team has collaborated with Belgian lab VITO to develop a reliable method to measure PFAS levels on spent carbon. This allows customers to make an informed choice about the best treatment option.
Based on this measurement, if the PFAS concentration is below the POPs Regulation limit (1mg/kg PFOA, 1mg/kg PFHxS and 50mg/kg PFOS), we can treat the carbon at our facilities safely and sustainably, making sure PFAS is eliminated below detectable levels. This thorough process ensures PFAS is permanently eliminated, rather than simply shift the problem elsewhere.
If the PFAS concentration exceeds this limit, the spent carbon is sent to a specialist third party for safe disposal.
How we help you
DESOTEC sustainable mobile filtration solutions
DESOTEC is your one-stop shop for all your PFAS treatment requirements.
Our filters are mobile with a small footprint, making them well-suited to busy construction or industrial sites. As they are supplied on a rental basis, they are ideal for short-term as well as longer term usage. In emergency situations, we can deliver and set up filters fast for immediate operation.
Off-site safe, sustainable waste handling is included in our full-service solution, with carbon reactivated for reuse wherever possible (see above). This lowers costs and boosts sustainability, enabling your company to tackle PFAS both effectively and sustainably for the benefit of our health and our environment.
DESOTEC’s solutions were able to remedy PFAS contamination in groundwater swiftly and effectively, enabling our construction programme to continue smoothly.
Related content
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DESOTEC and VITO develop an accurate method for the measurement of PFAS level adsorbed on activated carbon
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The omnipresent and potentially toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have quietly permeated our world. For this reason, the EU persistent organic pollutants (POPs) regulation and other legislations are restricting the use and emission limits of these molecules in industrial wastewater and air emissions. However, DESOTEC has developed a secure method, compliant with the POPs regulation, to remove PFAS and enables manufacturers to permanently and sustainably address the persistent challenge of ‘forever chemicals’.
Our filtration solutions
Mobile, modular industrial filtration that lets you focus on your business. Sustainable waste handling and round-the-clock support are included for a hassle-free service.
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Industries we help
We partner with companies in a variety of sectors, adapting our modular filtration solutions to your unique needs. -
Our unique service
Our closed-loop, full-service model is as unique as your business needs. We’ll define the right filtration setup and safely recycle filtration waste, making it easy to go green. -
Your Sustainability Journey
Like you, we care about protecting our air, water, and soil for future generations. Our filtration solutions help you meet environmental standards, reducing your carbon footprint.