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General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has announced that the US Defense Innovation Unit has chosen the Clean Earth waste facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, as the demonstration site for GA-EMS’ industrial supercritical water oxidation system.
This technology aims to eliminate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) waste, a significant environmental challenge, particularly in the areas surrounding defence infrastructure both in the United States and in Australia.
The demonstration is part of a contract awarded by the Department of Defense Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). GA-EMS will deliver, install and operate the industrial supercritical water oxidation (iSCWO) system on-site to destroy highly concentrated PFAS and PFAS-contaminated waste streams.
Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS, said, “ESTCP is working with DIU to demonstrate technologies for long-term use to destroy PFAS waste, including aqueous firefighting foam, from military installations.”
The Clean Earth Charlotte facility was chosen for its status as a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Part B Licensed Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility. This licensing permits the site to handle hazardous waste and by-products, including highly concentrated PFAS originating from US government facilities, as well as manufacturing, landfill, wastewater treatment and heavy industry sources.
Forney said, “This facility provides DIU with a unique opportunity to use our PFAS destruction system in a manner that mirrors real-world processing and throughput of a range of waste media sourced from multiple installations.
“In a single pass, iSCWO simultaneously destroys PFAS and other hazardous and non-hazardous organic waste from mediums such as wastewater, biosolids, soils, landfill leachate, and granulated activated charcoal, with a 99.99 per cent or greater destruction efficiency. Nothing is left but benign water, salts and carbon dioxide, all of which can be safely released into the environment with no post-treatment requirements.”
Following testing, the DIU and ESTCP will independently validate the results and compile findings in a report for the US government. The report will assess the effectiveness of technologies like GA-EMS’ iSCWO system in destroying PFAS waste from diverse sources and recommend commercial systems capable of addressing the issue.
“As PFAS forever chemicals continue to negatively impact human health and the environment, it is essential to deploy proven destruction systems as soon as possible to eliminate PFAS waste from the environment for good. We are confident we have one of the most effective commercial PFAS destruction systems available today to begin the end of PFAS forever,” Forney said.
GA-EMS has a proven track record spanning over a decade, with its iSCWO system successfully deployed to destroy more than 200 types of waste streams. In 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency confirmed the system’s efficacy in destroying PFAS in an independently verified report.
Australia continues to grapple with PFAS contamination, particularly in areas surrounding defence infrastructure, where firefighting foams containing PFAS have been used extensively. The chemical’s persistence in the environment, resistance to degradation and potential health impacts make PFAS removal a complex and pressing issue. Contaminated groundwater and soil near military bases, airports and industrial sites remain a significant challenge for communities and environmental authorities.
PFAS removal involves intricate processes due to the chemical’s stability and prevalence in diverse waste streams. Technologies like GA-EMS’ iSCWO system provide promising pathways to address this global problem, including Australia’s need for effective solutions to remediate PFAS contamination near its defence sites.
As Australia explores advanced remediation strategies, collaborations and innovations such as those demonstrated in the US offer potential frameworks for addressing this ongoing environmental challenge.
