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Characterization of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Emissions from a Municipal Waste-to-Energy Facility and the Destruction of Hexafluoroethane
Citation:
Shields, E., W. Roberson, J. Dewees, S. Jackson, A. Gao, J. Walsh, AND M. Van Brunt. Characterization of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Emissions from a Municipal Waste-to-Energy Facility and the Destruction of Hexafluoroethane. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-25/273, 2026.
Impact/Purpose:
The complete destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is important to help protect human health and the environment. This test program evaluated how effective incineration is in treating PFAS at a municipal waste incinerator, or waste-to-energy facility. To estimate the performance of the incinerator for PFAS destruction, a hard to destroy perfluorocarbon, hexafluoroethane, was added to the incinerator along with the typical, permitted municipal solid waste feeds. Results showed that the estimated annual air emissions for all detected PFAS were 7.8 grams per year, the estimated annual emissions for PFOA were less than 0.5 grams per year, and no PFOS was detected. Results also showed that 98% of the added hexafluoroethane was destroyed under the test conditions. There are uncertainties and limitations to the data that should be considered when evaluating the overall effectiveness of thermal treatment for PFAS.
Description:
The complete destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is important to help protect human health and the environment. PFAS are a group of chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products for many decades to make products stain-resistant, waterproof, and nonstick. There are thousands of different PFAS, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others. After release to the environment, PFAS can be persistent and some PFAS have been associated with human health and ecosystem impacts. One focus of EPA’s research is to better understand how to destroy these chemicals during waste processing. For this effort, EPA scientists followed the procedure described in Appendix A of EPA's 2024 Interim Guidance on the Destruction and Disposal of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Materials Containing Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. During the test, typical municipal solid waste (MSW) and permitted medical waste were incinerated under the facility’s normal operating conditions. Samples were collected before and after the air pollution control system and analyzed for PFAS and fluorinated compounds to determine the incinerator’s emissions and efficacy. To estimate the performance of the incinerator for PFAS destruction, a hard to destroy perfluorocarbon, hexafluoroethane (C2F6), was added to the incinerator along with the typical MSW feeds. Results showed that the estimated annual air emissions for all detected PFAS were 7.8 grams per year, the estimated annual emissions for PFOA were less than 0.5 grams per year, and no PFOS was detected. The average destruction and removal efficiency for hexafluoroethane was 98%. This test builds on previous PFAS incineration work and provides valuable data about PFAS incineration. There are uncertainties and limitations to the data that should be considered when evaluating the overall effectiveness of thermal treatment for PFAS.