PFAA-pollutions in drinking water
For those who have been following the Swedish news, it has been hard to avoid the latest debate and news regarding detection of PFAA in several Swedish drinking water sources. The primary source is believed to be an old, and nowadays prohibited, firefighting foam.
We have been contacted by several drinking water plants who have measured elevated PFAA levels in their water and we are now looking for solution together.
What is PFAA?
PFAA, perfluorinated alkyl acids, are a group of fluorinated organic compounds which create smooth surfaces which are water, fat and dirt resistant. These substances are, among other places, used in industrial processes and in products as preservatives, lubricants, paints and foams. The two subjects in the PFAA group much discussed are perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Both PFOS and PFOA is known as PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic), which means that they are chronically toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative. The topics will for a long time to come be, accumulate and poison the environment.
The use of PFOS has declined in recent years, but they have largely been replaced by other highly fluorinated substances. Some of these, such as fluorotelomer alcohols, can slowly degrade to PFOA.
PFOA has a negative effect on the reproductive organs and is suspected to be carcinogenic to humans, and is also rated as very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) and therefore tacked on EU candidate list of substances of very high concern (Substances of Very High Concern).
What is the Solution?
PFAA / PFOS / PFOA can be reduced or completely removed by various methods:
Oxidation
För att bryta ner PFC-föreningar i vatten behöver man vanligtvis oxidanter som är starkare än ”vanliga” oxidanter.
Advanced oxidation techniques, combining different oxidants, have proven to be effective with the right mixing technique. Combination of for example ozone and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and / or special catalysts raises the oxidation potential which enables the degradation of PFOS / PFOA.
Omvänd osmos
Omvänd osmos (RO) är en enkel och traditionell reningsmetod som används i många vattenreningssystem.
Våra RENA RO-system kan ta bort föroreningarna innan de når hushållen i de drabbade kommunerna. Den omvända osmostekniken som används separerar effektivt salter från vatten och gör metoden lämplig för att reducera PFAA-föroreningar i dricksvatten.
Learn more about reverse osmosis (RO) here.