Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Hydrothermal Alkaline Treatment of PFAS Contaminated Water and Groundwater
EPA Contract Number: 68HERC21C0021Title: Hydrothermal Alkaline Treatment of PFAS Contaminated Water and Groundwater
Investigators: Pinkard, Brian
Small Business: Aquagga Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: March 1, 2021 through August 31, 2021
Project Amount: $100,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2021) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Land Revitalization
Description:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used extensively since the 1940s due to their chemical stability and unique thermophysical properties. Those same properties make PFAS extremely recalcitrant environmental pollutants and bioaccumulative toxins. While several technologies exist for filtration of PFAS from water supplies, the end-of-life destruction of PFAS remains a challenge. Project managers at environmental engineering firms have a strong need for effective, affordable, and field-deployable PFAS destruction systems, especially for contaminated liquids.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
In this Phase I SBIR project, Aquagga robustly demonstrated the efficacy of the hydrothermal alkaline treatment (HALT) process for destroying >99.7% of PFAS in fire training pit (FTP) water samples, leveraging a continuous HALT reactor system. The reactor was operated for >100 hours without issues, producing consistent and repeatable PFAS destruction performance in an efficient and rapid process. Results also showed co-treatment of ~80% of hydrocarbon co-contaminants.
Conclusions:
Building upon these case study results, a containerized pilot reactor system was designed. Future efforts will fabricate and deploy this containerized HALT system for pilot demonstrations in 2022 and 2023. Several viable pilot project sites were identified in partnership with key stakeholders during the Phase I effort. Overall, this Phase I project successfully advanced the HALT PFAS destruction technology towards impactful pilot deployments in 2022 and 2023.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 1 publications | 1 publications in selected types | All 1 journal articles |
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Pinkard BR, Austin C, Purohit AL, Li J, Novosselov IV. Destruction of PFAS in AFFF-impacted fire training pit water, with a continuous hydrothermal alkaline treatment reactor. Chemosphere. 2023;314:137681. |
68HERC21C0021 (Final) |
Exit |
SBIR Phase II:
Hydrothermal Treatment of PFAS-Contaminated Groundwater | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.