Treatment of groundwater and wastewater contaminated with PFAs
Consumer products most often contain industrially produced polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), also called polyfluorinated surfactants (PFT) or polyfluorinated chemicals (PFC).
PFAs offer hydrophobic, lipophobic or dirt-repellent properties and are therefore often used as additives for, for example, fire-extinguishing foams, waxes, lubricants, waterproofing sprays or weather protection paints. Due to their various properties, the substance group of PFCs now comprises more than 4,700 chemical compounds. The contamination of soils and waters through anthropogenic PFASs has become an increasing concern since PFAs are almost non-biodegradable and accumulate in the environment. An increasing number of PFAS chemicals are added to the list of substances of very high concern (SHVC) every year because the impact of these substances on humans and the environment is tremendous.
Recently, extensive cases of damage became apparent in locations (such as for example Düsseldorf airport, Germany or, within the district of Rastatt/Baden-Baden, Germany) where many fire-fighting operations had taken place or, where sewage sludge containing PFASs were discharged. The contaminated soils must then be removed by disposing them of on landfills or, the soils become treated in complex cleaning processes. However, PFASs continue to remain in the landfill leachate or in the wash water and therefore have to be removed from these waters.
The state-of-the-art technology for treating these types of waters involves the implementation of activated carbon adsorption or reverse osmosis processes. This also depends on the individual degree of PFAS contamination and other impurities such as COD, salts, etc.
Due to our long-standing experience in this area, we are able to offer you suitable technical solutions for all demands.
Since 2019, TDL Energie GmbH is part of a nationwide competence centre and innovation network dealing with PFC issues, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy PerFluSan. Within the scope of this network, TDL Energie GmbH undertakes research tasks for the development of innovative water treatment processes.
PerFluSan innovation network
Perfluorinated surfactants - New decontamination technologies for soil and water and prevention of pollution caused by fluorine-free high-performance extinguishing foams
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