After decades of PFAS chemicals being released from industrial sources, these harmful substances have infiltrated rainwater, groundwater, rivers, and even contaminated drinking water.
Until now, PFAS destruction technologies have been relegated to the laboratory, or to batched processing. Yet most wastewater treatment processes need a continual-flow solution and a batch process would interrupt facility operations.
US start-up Aclarity believes its full scale reactors can continuously destroy PFAS at a rate that matches the customer's purification train.
When Aclarity carries out PFAS destruction at a customer's site, it transports pilot trailers to the landfill. Contaminated water containing PFAS flows through a reactor where it mineralises these substances. Through its process, it breaks down each component of the PFAS molecule into non-hazardous compounds.
“What sets us apart are our fully skidded systems, which encompass reactors, pumps, power supplies, valves, and automation. This level of automation is unique in the industry, as we can efficiently operate on-site and destroy PFAS in a single pass for our customers,” the CEO adds.
Third party lab results using standard ASTM method D7979 confirmed Aclarity destroyed PFAS compounds in landfill leachate continuously at a centralised waste treatment facility at levels of greater than 1,000 ng/L to below 10 ng/L. The equipment operated continuously for four weeks using less than 100 Watt-hr/gallon.
The company says these results offer a pathway forward to ridding the world of dangerous, cancer-causing forever chemicals.
"Existing methods for managing PFAS in landfill leachate merely transfer the chemicals within our environment," adds Mullen. "By proving scalability and leading unit economics, our customers now have a feasible solution to destroy PFAS forever, reducing environmental impact, liability, costs and operations while increasing capacity and public health."
After a recent fundraise of over $3 million, Aclarity is planning several permanent installations in 2023 and is working to evaluate complementary concentration technology providers to expand into verticals such as drinking water and groundwater remediation.
“At Aclarity, we share a unified vision of permanently eradicating PFAS. We envision a world where everyone can access clean, uncontaminated water, free from the grasp of PFAS. Through our relentless efforts, innovative technology, and strong partnerships, we are determined to make this vision a reality,” Mullen concludes.