What is PFAS flocculation?

A helpful Q&A for waste management teams in Europe that have PFAS in their leachate

Are you researching options for treating PFAS? A lot of waste management organizations ask us about flocculation, so we have put together this Q&A to bring you all up to speed on this simple, reliable method of removing PFAS from landfill leachate…

What are PFAS?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic compounds found in many industrial and commercial products. They don’t break down in nature and they have been linked with serious health risks. This is why local, regional and national authorities throughout Europe are imposing limits on how much PFAS you can legally have in your water.

 

 

 

We have PFAS in the leachate at our landfill. Do I need to do something about it?

Considering the health risks, waste management organizations are rightly anxious if their PFAS-contaminated leachate ends up in sources of drinking water. Some have been quick to stop this from happening. They are already removing PFAS from their leachate to keep people safe and healthy.

Sometimes this moral duty is accompanied by a legal one. In Sweden, for example, if surface water is a source of drinking water, there is a 90 ng/l limit for the sum of 11 individual PFAS. In sewage sludge in Denmark there is a limit of 0.01 mg/kg for the sum of 4 types of PFAS, and 0.05 mg/kg for the sum of 22 types of PFAS.

What happens if we don’t start treating PFAS yet?

If laws are not in place where you are, then you will have longer to get ready for when they do. But more rules are coming. PFAS is never far from the headlines, public pressure is mounting, and governments are discussing how best to deal with the problem.

Some landfill managers are choosing to treat the PFAS in their leachate right away. They might not know what all the PFAS limits will be yet, or where they will apply, or which PFAS will be included, but they do know the problem isn’t going away. If they remove their PFAS at an acceptable cost now, that will give them a head start on the journey ahead.

How can waste management teams remove PFAS from leachate?

In the past it has been a challenge to remove PFAS from dirty, complex leachate. In most cases, using traditional methods like granular activated carbon (GAC) is too expensive because of the technical challenges associated with treating leachate.

Today, however, there are simpler treatment technologies that address this problem at a much lower cost.

What is “PFAS flocculation”?

Flocculation is a quick, reliable and economical method for removing PFAS from landfill leachate. It is a well-established water treatment technology that has been around for decades. ECT2 has figured out a way to leverage the technology to also remove PFAS: an innovation called Fluorflok.

 

Is flocculation the best method for removing PFAS from leachate?

It depends. Different problems need different solutions, or combinations of solutions, and no two PFAS contamination sites have exactly the same problem. Fluorflok flocculation is appropriate when the goal is to remove the majority of PFAS from the wastewater. It is not appropriate when the objective is to reach trace or below-detection concentrations of PFAS.

How would you figure out what system will work best for us?

Because of the complexity and variability of leachate chemistry, testing is crucial. To figure out how best to treat your water, we recommend running initial tests on a sample in our lab, reviewing any analyses you already have, and then sending samples away to verify our work.

The next step is to set up either a pilot or a full-scale facility at your site, depending on your type of water, current emissions requirements, and investment needed for a full-scale solution. We use the lab and pilot results to develop and price your solution, and we document everything in a report.

Once your pilot has concluded, we design and build your full-scale plant at our own production facilities. We then install the plant on your premises – in a building, industrial tent, or insulated container. We follow the project all the way to completion and make sure everything goes to plan.

How would I make sure my system continues to run smoothly?

Some clients like to have us visit their sites at regular intervals to make sure everything continues to run smoothly. This is something we can cover in our service agreement with you.

 

What are the advantages of using flocculation to remove PFAS?

Fluorflok is a good option for removing PFAS from leachate because:

• It is effective. It removes up to 95% of the PFAS.
• It operates at a low cost. No specialized equipment is required.
• It is a reliable solution. The systems are easy to use and maintain.
• No pre-treatment is required.

What about the disadvantages?

Fluorflok is effective in removing PFAS from leachate, but it is important to decide whether you can settle for up to 95% reduction or if you need to go all the way, as the last few percent are often costly.

Put it to the test

Every PFAS challenge is different, but flocculation has clear advantages for many waste management organizations in Scandinavia. If you would like to explore your own options, to test different technologies on your own water, or just to learn more, then please feel free to use the contact form below.