Table 2.
Description of funded projects related to ex situ treatment of per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)‐impacted investigation‐derived wastes (IDW) and soils
| Project title | Primary objectives | Principal investigator (organization) | Treatment focus area | Start year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation of indirect thermal desorption coupled with thermal oxidation technology to treat solid PFAS‐impacted IDW | Evaluate effectiveness of indirect thermal desorption coupled with thermal oxidation technology to treat PFAS‐impacted IDW solid media while addressing complete mass balance |
F. Barranco (EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Hunt Valley, MD, USA) |
Thermal | 2018 |
Proof of concept (POC) complete |
| Enhanced oxidative destruction of PFAS in investigation derived waste soil and water | Evaluate a patented peroxone‐activated persulfate oxidation process for on‐site destruction of PFAS as well comingled chemicals (e.g., CVOCs, 1,4‐dioxane) from IDW residuals |
T. Boving (University of Rhode Island, South Kingston, RI, USA) |
Advanced oxidation | 2018 |
POC in progress |
| Pilot scale assessment of a deployable photocatalytic treatment system modified with BiPO4 catalyst particles for PFAS destruction in IDW | Evaluate the effectiveness of BiPO4, a polymorphic crystalline semiconductor material with photocatalytic properties, in the Purifics Photo‐Cat system for treatment of PFAS‐impacted groundwater |
E. Cates (Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA) |
Photocatalytic | 2018 |
POC follow‐on effort in progress |
| Reactive electrochemical membrane (REM) reactors for the oxidation of perfluoroalkyl compound contaminated water | Evaluate cost‐effective REM for the remediation of PFAS in IDWs |
B. Chaplin (University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, USA) |
Electrochemical | 2018 |
POC in progress |
| Chemical decomposition combined with physical adsorption for the treatment of investigation‐derived waste containing PFAS | Integrate various treatment technologies, including adsorption, advanced oxidation and reductive defluorination, into one engineered system to synergistically remove and degrade PFAS in IDW under ambient conditions |
H. Cho (The University of Texas at Arlington, TX, USA) |
Sorption | 2018 |
POC in progress |
| Complete reductive defluorination of PFAS by hydrated electrons generated from 3‐indole‐acetic‐acid in chitosan‐modified montmorillonite | Develop a low‐cost, environmentally friendly “green chemistry” approach, using chitosan‐montmorillonite–based nanocomposite, for effectively degrading PFAS in IDW | H. Dong (Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA) | Sorption/advanced oxidation‐reduction | 2018 | POC in progress |
| Field demonstration of infrared thermal treatment of PFAS‐impacted soils from subsurface investigations | Demonstrate effective field treatment of PFAS‐impacted soil IDW with infrared thermal desorption and off‐gas capture, aiming at ultimate destruction | J. Hatton (CH2M Hill, Englewood, CO, USA) | Thermal | 2018 | POC complete |
| Effective destruction of PFAS in water by modified SiC‐based photocatalysts | Assess the ability of SiC‐based photocatalysts for complete molecular destruction of PFAS to achieve target water quality and reducing the time to remediation | Z. Hendren (Research Triangle Institute, Raleigh‐Durham, NC, USA) | Photocatalytic | 2018 | POC complete |
| Plasma based treatment processes for PFAS investigation derived waste | For aqueous IDW, evaluate a hybrid sorption/plasma reactor to remove PFAS onto ion exchange resin and then desorb and destroy the removed PFAS using plasma. For soil cuttings, evaluate soil washing followed by plasma‐aided PFAS destruction in the spent solution |
T. Holsen (Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA) |
Thermal | 2018 |
POC in progress |
| A combined photo/electrochemical reductive pathway towards enhanced PFAS degradation | Develop a combined photo/electrochemical reduction process to treat recalcitrant PFAS and co‐occurring chemicals found in IDW generated during the study of impacted groundwater |
D. Jassby (University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA) |
Electrochemical | 2018 |
POC in progress |
| Small‐scale thermal treatment of investigation‐derived wastes containing PFAS | Evaluate thermal decomposition of PFAS in IDW materials including use of Ca(OH)2 amendments to lower energy use and reduce VOF emissions produced during such decomposition |
P. Koster van Groos (Aptim, Princeton, NJ, USA) |
Thermal | 2018 |
POC in progress |
| High‐performance treatment of PFAS from investigation‐derived waste: Integrating advanced oxidation‐reduction and membrane concentration | Evaluate IDW treatment train approach comprising advanced oxidation, hydrated electron defluorination, and membrane‐based concentration for PFAS destruction under ambient conditions | J. Liu [B] (University of California, Riverside, CA, USA) | Advanced oxidation‐reduction | 2018 | POC in progress |
| Demonstration of smoldering combustion treatment of PFAS‐impacted investigation‐derived waste | Demonstrate the use of smoldering combustion to treat IDW (both liquid and solid) generated during investigation of PFAS‐impacted sites | D.W. Major (Geosyntec, Kingston, ON, Canada) | Thermal | 2018 | POC follow‐on effort in progress |
| Ex situ remediation of investigation‐derived wastes containing PFAS by electron beam technology | Investigate the utility of high‐energy electron beam technology as an innovative approach for on‐site treatment of IDW containing PFAS |
S.D. Pillai (Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA) |
Thermal | 2018 |
POC follow‐on effort in progress |
| Ex situ soil washing to remove PFAS adsorbed to soils from source zones | Demonstrate field‐scale soil washing as a cost‐effective mass removal technology to treat source zones soils containing PFAS |
J. Quinnan [B] (Arcadis, Brighton, MI, USA) |
Soil washing | 2020 | Awaiting contracting |
| Application of non‐thermal plasma technology for the removal of PFAS from Investigation‐Derived Wastes | Demonstrate the feasibility of applying dielectric barrier discharge to enhance the use of cold plasma to degrade PFAS in IDW |
C. Sales (Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA) |
Thermal | 2018 |
POC follow‐on effort in progress |
| Hydrothermal technologies for on‐site destruction of site investigation wastes impacted with PFAS | Evaluate nascent hydrothermal conversion technologies coupled with low‐cost reactive amendments to destroy PFAS and co‐occurring chemicals present in IDW materials |
T. Strathmann (Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA) |
Thermal | 2018 |
POC in progress |
| Ex situ thermal treatment of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances | Field demonstration of thermal conduction heating to volatilize PFAS from ex situ soil stockpiles followed by vapor extraction and condensate treatment at Eielson Air Force Base |
J. Wehrmann (Paragon, Anchorage, AK, USA) |
Thermal | 2020 | Awaiting contracting |
| Destruction of PFAS and organic co‐occurring chemicals in water and soil present in investigation‐derived waste at DoD sites using novel adsorbent and ultrasound | Develop a low‐cost, simple to use technology using a cyclodextrin polymer and ionic liquid coated iron adsorbent for the removal of PFAS and co‐mingled organics from IDW containing groundwater and soil at DoD sites followed by ultrasonic destruction at 430 kHz |
H. Yu (Amriton, Norristown, PA, USA) |
Sorption | 2018 |
POC complete |
| A cost‐effective technology for destruction of PFAS from DoD subsurface investigation‐derived wastes using a new class of adsorptive photocatalysts | Evaluate a novel adsorptive photocatalyst comprising of activated charcoal/carbon and titanate nanotubes for adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of PFAS in IDW water; for IDW soil evaluate a dispersant for PFAS extraction followed by use of adsorptive photocatalyst to treat PFAS in the spent extractants | D. Zhao (Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA) | Photocatalytic | 2018 |
POC follow‐on effort in progress |
PFAS = per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substance; IDW = investigation‐derived wastes; CVOC = chlorinated volatile organic compound; SiC = silicon carbon; VOF = volatile organic fraction; DoD = US Department of Defense.