Using PerfluorAd, the TRS Group recently completed a cleanout of a firefighting vehicle at a major West Coast airport, reducing PFAS concentrations by more than 99.9%.

"PerfluorAd continues to provide outstanding results," says David Fleming, a founder of TRS. "Not only did we reduce PFAS concentrations by more than 99%, but we also applied it to the rinse water, reducing the airport's waste."

TRS is the North American licensee of the patented PerfluorAd® technology, developed by Cornelsen Umwelttechnologie GmbH, to clean out fire-suppression systems impacted by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in aqueous film forming foams (AFFF). Often called "forever chemicals" due to their persistence in the environment, PFAS are notoriously difficult to remediate.

PFAS Concentrations.png

Goals

  • Remove residual AFFF and reduce PFOA and PFOS to 2 ng/l or less
  • Dispose of liquid waste in the onsite wastewater treatment plant non-detect (ND) discharge limit(detection limit 2 ng/l)
  • Compare triple freshwater rinse to PerfluorAd® Process
  • Analyze PFAS rebound

Project characteristics

  • Pierce Firefighting truck with a HUSKY 12 gpm Foam System
  • 75 gallon onboard AFFF tank
  • No PFOS detected from start

Operations

  • Truck cleanout completed in four days
  • Rebound testing after three days


Results

  • ND for 30 of 31 PFAS analytes
  • 6:2 FTS concentration was 11.2 ng/l
  • No rebound for PFOS, PFOA
  • Incomplete PFAS removal from triple water rinse
  • Waste generated:
    • <8 gallons of PFAS sludge
    • 400 lbs of spent LGAC
    • <5,000 gallons of rinsate
    • Clean wastewater disposed onsite in treatment plant

PFOA Concentrations