Grantee Research Project Results
In Situ Remediation Technology (InSRT) for Remediation of PFAS Contaminated Groundwater
EPA Contract Number: 68HERC21C0044Title: In Situ Remediation Technology (InSRT) for Remediation of PFAS Contaminated Groundwater
Investigators: Holsopple, Laura
Small Business: RemWell, LLC
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2023 (Extended to December 31, 2023)
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (2021) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Endocrine Disruptors , SBIR - Water , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent chemicals that have been introduced to the environment through manufacturing, use, and disposal of products containing PFAS. The U.S. EPA has issued a lifetime drinking water Health Advisory Level (HAL) for the perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorosulfonic acid (PFOS), two of the more than 3,000 PFAS compounds, based on their potential toxicity. Many states have also developed both enforceable and non-enforceable standards and guidance values for PFAS in drinking water and groundwater. Cost effective management technologies are sought to address the estimated market of over 2,000 PFAS sites.
Conventional sorption/filtration technologies to separate PFAS from groundwater are viable for addressing PFAS contaminated groundwater; however, approaches such as sonolysis that destroy PFAS can offer a permanent solution and avoid residuals management following separation strategies. While destruction technologies for treating PFAS contaminated groundwater have been identified, their intended application is currently focused on ex situ treatment of extracted groundwater. Groundwater extraction with ex situ treatment is expensive and energy intensive.
Recent developments in horizontal well drilling and application provide a means for implementing destructive technologies in situ. Horizontal wells passively capture and focus flow from a wide capture zone upgradient of a horizontal well. RemWell has developed the InSRT reactor, which when installed within a horizontal well in situ, destroys PFAS in groundwater captured by the horizontal well using sonolysis. InSRT avoid expensive and energy-intensive pumping and incineration, and ultimately reduces a site manager's annual operating costs by 40%.
RemWell successfully completed SBIR Phase I, advancing the reactor, and assuring it was leak-proof, readily deployable in a horizontal well, and does indeed operate in situ. Phase II focuses on expanding applicability of InSRT by developing and testing three additional reactor sizes; investigating the need for and effectiveness of oxidative pretreatment to improve InSRT's overall treatment efficiency; subjecting InSRT to a 3rd-party design review; and developing a user interface and automated control system.
Progress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase I:
In Situ Remediation Technology (InSRT) for Remediation 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.