Guidance on PFAS Remediation
Iron Creek’s Tech Zero offers hydrogen-powered PFAS remediation
As of June 15, the EPA released new guidance about PFAS, with four drinking water health advisories as well as the first $1 billion round of grant funding “to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water.” In addition to these new guidelines, the EPA will propose new PFAS regulations this fall.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of chemicals with a lasting legacy that has given them the nickname ‘forever chemicals.’ PFAS have been used widely in a number of consumer, commercial, and industrial products, but these durable chemicals have increasingly revealed themselves to be a double-edged sword. There are thousands of different kinds of PFAS. Overall, qualities like moisture-repellence and flame retardant which made them so appealing for commercial use are the same qualities that make them break down slowly and accumulate in the environment. Today, you can find at least small concentrations of PFAS in nearly any place you can imagine– water, air, soil, people, animals, food.
PFAS Over Time
There is a lot we still don’t understand about PFAS, and research is ongoing. The EPA has been focused mainly on the increase of concentrations of PFOS and PFOA, the most commonly used types of PFAS, over a person’s lifetime. Though the consequences of PFAS accumulation in the human body are not yet fully understood, the EPA’s new research indicates that even near-zero levels of PFAS, levels which we don’t currently have the technology to detect, would have negative health implications over time.
Tech Zero for Remediation
Iron Creek Group is the leader in PFAS remediation technology, with a patent-protected way to eliminate 99.9% of PFAS from soils and sludges. Iron Creek’s Tech Zero technology treats the soil before PFAS can contaminate water sources. With Tech Zero, Iron Creek has the proven ability to volatilize the chemical and destroy it, without releasing it into the air. Iron Creek also specializes in “biosolids decontamination,” a category listed on the EPA’s areas of particular concern for PFAS concentration. In their words, “fertilizer from wastewater treatment plants that is used on agricultural lands can affect ground and surface water and animals that graze on that land.”
In light of both the new guidelines and the imminent regulations, now is the time to integrate the most up-to-date PFAS treatment methods available.
Eliminating PFAS
If government officials can remediate PFAS contaminated soils and sludges before they reach the water supply, we can satisfy the EPA’s new PFAS guidelines— soon-to-be-announced regulations. By incorporating Iron Creek’s Tech Zero technology in every public works department, municipalities would in fact have the technology to eliminate PFAS on-site to thoroughly decontaminate biosolids so the material is safe for reuse.
A Green Solution
Tech Zero can additionally be powered by alternative fuel sources like hydrogen and biomass. This opens the door to EPA grant funding, which is being awarded to companies who use green technology to clean up brownfields.
Other PFAS treatment options still have repercussions for the environment, requiring landfilling or incineration. They result in potential restrictions on the future use of the site, or generate multiple waste streams requiring disposal or further treatment.
After treatment with Tech Zero, the contaminated area is safe for public use. The soil or material meets stringent environmental regulations. There is no waste. There is no contingent liability. Treating on-site reduces the risk of greater exposure to PFAS. Tech Zero is compact and space efficient, but it can also scale. It works without the need for a large on-site remediation team, minimizing overhead costs to cities and businesses.
About Iron Creek Group
Serving North America, Iron Creek Group specializes in developing innovative, nimble technology that solves complex environmental issues. Learn how they’re leveraging technology to challenge the existing remediation paradigm by visiting, https://www.ironcreekgroup.com
For questions and further information, please email Ken Bell: ken@ironcreekgroup.com.