PFAS CHEMICAL DESTRUCTION PROCESS

Organization Name

PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

Inventor(s)

Louis F. Centofanti of Atlanta GA US

Tommy W. Yarbrough of Atlanta GA US

Jose Gabriel Garcia of Atlanta GA US

Christopher M. Dyer of Atlanta GA US

PFAS CHEMICAL DESTRUCTION PROCESS

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18888283 titled 'PFAS CHEMICAL DESTRUCTION PROCESS

Original Abstract Submitted

A system and method for chemically destroying, degrading and incinerating a fluorocarbon or fluorinated material, such as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), with reduced emissions of gaseous PFC is provided. The method includes mixing the fluorinated material, a hydroxide base, and optionally a solvent system in a batch reactor to form a suspension. The PFAS and solvent system can be provided by AFFF. The reaction mixture is heated to a temperature ranging from about 25° C. to about 400° C. for about 0.5 hours to about 240 hours to defluorinate the fluorocarbons in the PFAS and produce a defluorinated waste product. More specifically, the method converts organic fluorine present in the PFAS to inorganic fluoride. Thus, the defluorinated waste product can be incinerated with reduced emissions of harmful gaseous PFCs.