At the International Water Conference, Brian Pinkard, CTO and Co-founder of Aquagga, presented with 3M’s Sean Smith, Ph.D., and Christopher Bryan, showcasing successful results from a PFAS destruction demonstration this year.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, present significant challenges in wastewater treatment, especially in industrial environments where high total dissolved solids (TDS) complicate effective degradation. To address this issue, our team partnered with 3M to explore the capabilities of hydrothermal alkaline treatment (HALT) in the destruction of PFAS within challenging liquid matrices that contain high TDS levels and a mix of ultra short, short, and long-chain PFAS.

A recent pilot study conducted at a 3M manufacturing facility showcased HALT’s ability to treat actual high-TDS industrial wastewater. Operating continuously for over 200 hours and treating over 1,000 gallons of highly concentrated wastewater, the HALT system achieved an impressive destruction rate of over 99% for PFAS, in spite of the complex, high-TDS wastewater stream. Target PFAS of interest were consistently destroyed to below analytical detection limits, as verified by multiple analytical techniques. Additionally, the treatment process demonstrated robust fluorine mass balance closure and conversion of organic fluorine to dissolved inorganic fluoride.

Beyond its effectiveness, HALT offers significant practical advantages for real-world applications. Unlike other treatment methods that struggle with high salt concentrations, HALT efficiently handles high-salt waste streams without the need for extensive dilution or pre-treatment. This capability not only streamlines the treatment process but also reduces overall chemical and energy inputs, making HALT a cost-effective and sustainable solution for PFAS treatment in industrial settings.