Useful resource restoration agency Veolia has printed reportedly complete testing on the incineration of PFAS compounds. The checks seem to exhibit that prime temperature incineration is a confirmed and dependable disposal resolution for prime concentrations of focused PFAS, destroying higher than 99% of focused substances, together with as much as 99.9999% of PFOS and PFHxS.
PFAS contamination is a crucial problem attributable to its widespread presence and protracted nature. This newest testing was performed utilizing the EPA’s most present steerage, and Veolia stated it “advances the scientific understanding of PFAS disposal and provides cities and industries extra choices for administration of those compounds.”
The 2-phased research was performed on the agency’s hazardous waste incinerator in Port Arthur, Texas in July and October of 2024 by a third-party supplier. The power was chosen based mostly on its observe document of managing PFAS-containing materials, and its potential to achieve a secondary combustion chamber temperature of two,040°F (round 1,155°C) and a residence time of two.3 seconds.
The testing evaluated thermal therapy of AFFF fireplace preventing foam, PFAS-contaminated soil and spent carbon water therapy media in alignment with the EPA’s most present steerage for solids, liquids and stack air emissions (EPA Interim Steerage on the Destruction and Disposal of PFAS – April 8, 2024). The testing used the OTM-45 and OTM-50 strategies to guage merchandise of incomplete combustion (PICs) in stack air emissions. The check outcomes had been lately introduced on the 2025 PFAS Discussion board V in Tampa, Florida.
The important thing findings of the testing included:
- General end result: Excessive temperature incineration is an environment friendly disposal resolution for prime concentrations of focused PFAS, destroying higher than 99% of focused substances, together with as much as 99.9999% of PFOS and PFHxS.
- Stable residue: In 41 of 45 samples, there have been no detectable portions of the goal PFAS in any of the ash, slag or filter cake. In 4 ash samples, goal PFAS ranges near the tactic detection restrict had been recognized.
- Liquid residue: Very low ranges of the goal PFAS had been detected in liquid residues; the goal PFAS residuals had been under the tactic detection minimal, in addition to the Most Contaminant Ranges (MCLs) set by the EPA for consuming water.
- Air emissions: The destruction and removing effectivity (DRE) was higher than 99% for almost all of goal PFAS, and few to no PICs had been detected throughout incineration, indicating extremely efficient destruction.
“This testing demonstrated that prime temperature incineration is a dependable and confirmed disposal resolution for prime concentrations of focused PFAS,” stated Bob Cappadona, President and Chief Government Officer of Veolia North America’s Environmental Options and Providers enterprise.
Veolia says it has handled greater than 24 billion gallons of water for PFAS at greater than 30 websites, with dozens extra beneath development or in planning.
Veolia says its BeyondPFAS suite of choices is meant to assist industries and companies confronting the problem of regulated PFAS compounds of their water provides, work processes or waste streams. “It streamlines Veolia’s choices with a holistic method from preliminary web site evaluation and sampling, to implementation of tailor-made therapy applied sciences, by means of correct dealing with and disposing of contaminants according to present EPA-recommended strategies resembling incineration, deep effectively injection and secured, accepted landfills.”
