Breaking Bad… Bonds: An Integrated Approach to PFAS Destruction in Complex Wastewaters

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Environment
Oral Presentation

Prepared by J. Borny, N. Ruiz, O. Sulawa
Lummus Technology, 10100 Bay Area Blvd, Pasadena, TX, 77507, United States


Contact Information: [email protected]; 713-857-5207

ABSTRACT

Lummus Technology develops advanced treatment systems for complex industrial wastewater, with a primary focus on the destruction and removal of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Industrial effluents containing high salinity and elevated total dissolved solids (TDS) present significant mass transfer and materials compatibility challenges, and the chemical stability of PFAS further complicates treatment.

To ensure accurate quantification across diverse matrices, Lummus employs an extended U.S. EPA Method 1633A, a validated LC MS/MS protocol capable of measuring more than 40 PFAS species, including precursors and challenging ultra short chain compounds. These analytics support both treatment design and performance verification.

Lummus implements targeted PFAS specific treatment trains engineered to address a broad chemical spectrum of PFAS classes. These trains incorporate polishing steps optimized for low sorption, highly mobile ultra short chain PFAS that bypass conventional adsorption and separation processes.

Final destruction is achieved through the Zimpro® Electro Oxidation (ZEO) process, an electrochemical oxidation technology capable of cleaving carbon–fluorine bonds and mineralizing PFAS to inorganic fluoride. This approach eliminates reliance on media replacement or waste transfer, ensuring true mass removal from the system rather than contaminant redistribution.

Demonstrated performance across multiple industrial wastewater applications shows that the integrated approach, which includes high resolution PFAS analytics, enhanced removal of legacy PFAS and ultra short chain species, and complete electro oxidative destruction, provides a robust and scalable solution for PFAS impacted wastewater.

This presentation will detail the analytical methods, treatment train architecture, and full-scale performance data supporting Lummus’s integrated PFAS destruction approach.