The destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances remains a critical hurdle in the remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contaminated sites

Hazen and Sawyer, PC was awarded a $202,837.56 cooperative agreement from the Bureau of Reclamation under the SECURE Water Act - Research Agreements program (CFDA 15.560) to pilot an electrochemical oxidation system for treating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminated concentrate from a brackish water desalination facility. The pilot project will operate an electrochemical oxidation skid to treat PFAS impaired membrane concentrate from the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility in Alamogordo, New Mexico between May 16, 2023 and December 31, 2024. Outcomes of this project may reduce long-term environmental impacts of PFAS contaminated membrane concentrate disposal through lower energy and cost destruction methods compared to alternatives.

While previous bench-scale studies have established the effectiveness of electrochemical oxidation as a promising per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances destruction technology, the bulk of these studies extrapolate destruction performance using synthetic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contaminated matrices. In this proposed two-phase pilot study, an electrochemical oxidation pilot skid will be operated in the treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances impaired membrane concentrate from the brackish groundwater national desalination research facility in alamogordo, new mexico. This pilot demonstration seeks to better understand the long term per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances destruction performance of electrochemical oxidation to supplement the residuals handling associated with existing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances membrane separation processes. Outcomes of this project may reduce the long-term environmental impact of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances impaired membrane concentrate disposal with lower energy requirements and cost than other destruction approaches.