An Enhanced Contact Plasma Reactor: A Competitive Remediation Technology for Per- and Perfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Contaminated Water

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have received considerable attention due to their toxicity, ubiquitous presence and recalcitrance. Manufacture and disposal of PFAS-containing products has resulted in PFAS contamination of numerous water supplies. Recent reports indicate the Air Force alone is expecting to spend > $2.25 billion for cleanup for PFAS-contaminated sites. Thus, there is a huge market for technologies that can help remediate sites contaminated by PFASs. Our technology called an enhanced contact electrical discharge plasma reactor generates aqueous electrons which chemically reduce PFASs. Recent experiments on PFAS-impacted groundwater from a Department of Defense site demonstrated that the technology is capable of reducing perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctyl sulfonate (PFOS) concentrations to below regulatory limits within 1 minute of treatment at 1 gallon per minute flowrate. These removal rates are significantly better than those of leading alternative treatment technologies and treatment costs are significantly lower. Funding has been obtained to field demonstrate the reactor and two consulting firms active in PFAS remediation are strong supporters of the technology. This proposal is aimed at eliminating the final hurdles towards a commercially viable reactor: improving the design of the plasma producing electrical circuit so it can operate more efficiently and continuously with minimum downtime.