How Iron Creek Group’s advanced thermal desorption technology removes PFAS from contaminated soil, destroys the compounds, and leaves treated soil available for reuse
PFAS soil remediation can involve excavation and disposal, but these approaches typically contain or relocate PFAS rather than destroy it. Iron Creek Group’s TecZero™ thermal desorption technology is designed to remove PFAS from contaminated soil and destroy the compounds through controlled thermal treatment. A large-scale pilot project conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Military demonstrated TecZero™’s PFAS destruction performance across a broad range of targeted compounds.
Key Takeaways:
- PFAS compounds are highly persistent and require specialized remediation technologies designed to remove and destroy them.
- Iron Creek Group’s TecZero™ thermal desorption technology volatilizes PFAS from contaminated soil and routes the resulting off-gas for high-temperature destruction.
- A large-scale pilot project conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Military demonstrated TecZero™ PFAS destruction performance across a broad range of targeted compounds.
- Treating PFAS-impacted soil before contaminants migrate to groundwater can help prevent further spread and reduce remediation complexity.
- Following successful treatment and verification, treated soil can be reused as backfill and support revegetation.
Why PFAS Soil Remediation Requires Specialized Treatment
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present a remediation challenge that conventional methods are not designed to solve. The carbon-fluorine bond, one of the strongest in organic chemistry, is what made PFAS compounds useful in firefighting foam, industrial coatings, and consumer products. It is also what makes them so persistent in the environment. PFAS is highly resistant to natural degradation, and conventional excavation and disposal do not destroy the compounds. They simply move the liability from one location to another.
Effective PFAS remediation involves more than removing contaminated soil. It requires a treatment process capable of destroying the PFAS compounds themselves. Because PFAS includes a broad range of compounds with different chemical properties and thermal behaviors, achieving consistent destruction requires precise control of temperature, time, and other process conditions.
How TecZero™ Uses Thermal Desorption to Treat PFAS-Contaminated Soil
Iron Creek Group’s TecZero™ is a patent-protected, ex-situ thermal desorption system. Contaminated soil is excavated and loaded into a self-contained, modular bin structure, where it is heated indirectly in a low-oxygen environment. There is no direct flame or combustion applied to the material. As the soil reaches treatment temperature, PFAS compounds are volatilized and removed from the soil matrix. The off-gases are then routed through an exhaust header to an afterburner, where temperatures exceeding 1,800°F destroy the PFAS compounds.
TecZero™ can be mobilized and operational within just days of arrival. It handles wet, saturated soils without prescreening or dewatering, which matters for sites where PFAS contamination is concentrated in high-moisture areas. Following successful treatment and confirmation that applicable regulatory standards have been met, treated soil can be reused as backfill.
Large-Scale Study Demonstrates TecZero™ PFAS Destruction Performance
Iron Creek Group recently completed a large-scale pilot project in collaboration with the U.S. Military, with engineering oversight provided by GSI Environmental. The study tested TecZero™’s PFAS desorption and destruction performance across a wide range of targeted compounds at a military installation. The study was conducted in accordance with applicable EPA requirements, with results exceeding regulatory standards.
Results confirmed meaningful PFAS destruction across the target compound set showing 99.5% destruction of components with many of the compounds reaching100% destruction.
These results demonstrate PFAS destruction performance not previously seen across a broad range of targeted compounds. The study represents a significant data point for any site manager or environmental engineer evaluating thermal desorption as a path to PFAS soil remediation at scale.
Why Treat PFAS-Contaminated Soil Before It Reaches Groundwater
PFAS contamination in soil can become a groundwater problem over time. As precipitation and groundwater move through contaminated soil, PFAS can migrate downward and laterally through the soil profile. Treating PFAS-impacted soil at the source can help prevent further migration before contamination reaches groundwater.
TecZero™’s on-site treatment model means contaminated material does not need to be transported, staged, or managed at an off-site facility while remediation decisions are deferred. The process can begin quickly and, following successful treatment and verification, can provide a defined remediation endpoint for the treated soil.
Where TecZero™ PFAS Remediation Can Be Used
TecZero™ can be deployed at military installations, industrial facilities, airports, brownfields, former firefighting training areas, and other sites with PFAS-contaminated soil.
The system can scale from smaller impacted areas to full-scale remediation projects and can be deployed to remote or cold-climate sites. It can operate without disrupting surrounding facility activity. For site managers and environmental engineers across these site types, TecZero™ offers a thermal desorption pathway with documented field performance and a clear regulatory compliance objective.
Explore TecZero™ for Your PFAS Remediation Project
For sites seeking an alternative to managing PFAS-contaminated soil through off-site disposal, TecZero™ provides an on-site thermal treatment approach designed to destroy PFAS and return treated soil to productive use. Contact Iron Creek Group to discuss whether TecZero™ is right for your site.
Frequently Asked Questions About PFAS Soil Remediation
Does TecZero™ destroy PFAS, or does it remove and relocate it?
TecZero™ destroys PFAS by excavating contaminated soil and heating it in a controlled, low-oxygen environment. PFAS compounds volatilize and are routed to an afterburner operating at temperatures in excess of 1,800°F, where the carbon-fluorine bonds are broken and the molecules are destroyed. Following successful treatment and verification, the treated soil can be reused or returned to the site as backfill rather than being sent to a landfill.
Can TecZero™ treat all PFAS variants?
Over 15,000 PFAS variants are known, and treatment requires understanding the specific compounds present at a given site. TecZero™’s large-scale pilot study with the U.S. Military demonstrated destruction performance across a broad range of target compounds. Because PFAS compounds have different chemical properties, treatment performance must be evaluated based on the compounds present and the conditions required for treatment.
Is the treated soil safe for reuse after PFAS remediation?
Treated soil is designed to meet applicable EPA and state regulatory standards. The treatment process preserves soil structure, allowing the material to retain water, support root systems, and revegetate. Treated soil can be backfilled on the client’s own site.
Does TecZero™ require dewatering or prescreening before treatment?
No. TecZero™ handles wet, saturated soils without prescreening or dewatering. Material is loaded into the treatment system as received.
What site types is TecZero™ suited for?
TecZero™ has been deployed at military installations, industrial sites, brownfields, and legacy contamination sites. The system is modular and portable, and can typically be mobilized and operational within days, depending on site conditions.
Why is it important to treat PFAS-contaminated soil before it reaches groundwater?
PFAS is highly mobile in soil and migrates toward groundwater over time. Once in the water column, remediation becomes significantly more complex, costly, and long-term. Treating PFAS-impacted soil at the source can help prevent further migration and provide a defined, auditable remediation endpoint.
About Iron Creek Group
Iron Creek Group specializes in developing advanced, mobile remediation technology that solves complex environmental challenges across North America and beyond. Headquartered in Bellingham, Washington, with Canadian operations based in Alberta, Iron Creek Group has deployed its thermal technologies at military installations, Superfund sites, brownfields, refineries, and legacy industrial sites. To learn more about TecZero™ and PFAS soil remediation, visit ironcreekgroup.com.
