Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of artificial organic chemical compounds that are a growing source of public health and environmental concern. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA or C8) are the most widely used and researched PFAS compounds.
PFASs, formerly known as perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), have been produced since the 1940s and are employed in various applications. PFASs and similar substances are imported into Australia and used in oil, water, and heat-resistant goods.
What is the issue with PFAS?
PFAS, PFOS, and PFOA are soluble, non-volatile synthetic organic contaminants. Instead of dissolving, these “forever chemicals” collect in soils, sediments, and living species, including people, for decades. Because of their solubility, they may move long distances in both groundwater and surface water. So, PFAS Water Treatment is a must for healthy living.
PFASs’ bioaccumulation potential, resistance to biodegradation, toxicity, and carcinogenic qualities have sparked widespread concern about their implications on human health and the environment. As a result, PFAS chemical removal treatment systems are being constructed in Australia and globally.
Where can I get PFAS, PFOS, and PFOA pollution?
Hydraulic fluids, weatherproof and fire-retardant fabrics, surfactants in the photography and semiconductor industries, paper and leather production, food packaging, nonstick cookware, carpet treatments, floor wax, furniture polish, insecticides, sealants, paints, and other applications all use PFAS chemicals.
PFAS compounds are prevalent in contexts where they are utilised in firefighting foams, notably aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) in aviation and military training grounds or as mist suppressants in the metal plating sector.
Ion Exchange Therapy
Resins and anion exchange therapy are two additional therapeutic options. Polymeric materials are highly porous, acidic, necessary, and insoluble in water used to make ion exchange resins. The resin is made of tiny beads that form using hydrocarbons. Ion exchange resins can be categorised as either cationic or anionic. In contrast to positively charged anion exchange resins (AER), which remove negatively charged toxins like PFAS, negatively charged cationic exchange resins (CER) remove positively charged pollutants.
Ion exchange resins work as small strong magnets, attracting and retaining polluted items as they move through the water system. PFAS ions with negative charges are attracted to positively charged anion resins. Although AER has shown a high capacity for various PFAS, it is often more costly than GAC. Among the several varieties of AER resins, arguably the most promising is an AER in a single-use mode followed by resin incineration. One advantage of this treatment system is that no resin regeneration is required. Therefore there is no contaminated waste stream to manage, treat, or dispose of.
AER, like GAC, eliminates 100 per cent of the PFAS over a period determined by the resin used, bed depth, flow rate, which PFAS must remove, and the degree and type of background organic matter and other component pollutants.
Bottom Line
Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) are artificial compounds that persist in the environment. For decades, these compounds have been utilised in consumer items to make them nonstick and water-resistant.
Membrane Systems Australia has extensive expertise in PFAS Water Treatment, having developed several PFAS decontamination water treatment facilities.