Hydrothermal technology for decontamination and mineralization of perfluoro- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) in wastes, concentrate solutions, and chemical stockpiles
AssigneeColorado School of Mines
InventorsTimothy James Strathmann, Christopher P. Higgins, Boran Wu, Shilai Hao
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Abstract
Methods and systems for treating a waste substance containing perfluoro- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and mineralizing the PFAS, at least partially. The method includes combining the PFAS with a first amendment in a reactor to create a combination, heating and pressurizing the combination to hydrothermal conditions, and holding the combination at hydrothermal conditions for a holding time sufficient to at least partially mineralize the PFAS to create a treated combination.
Claims20
A method for treating a waste substance containing PFAS, the method comprising:
- combining the PFAS with a first amendment, wherein the first amendment is a base selected from one or more of NaOH, Ca(OH)2, Na2CO3, KOH, NH4OH, and Mg(OH)2, in a reactor to create a combination having a moisture content of at least 10%;
- heating and pressurizing the combination in the reactor to a hydrothermal condition wherein the hydrothermal condition comprises a temperature between 200° C. and 700° C. and a pressure between 2 MPa and 50 MPa;
- and
- holding the combination in the hydrothermal condition for a holding time sufficient to at least partially mineralize the PFAS to create a treated combination.
A system for treating a waste substance containing PFAS substances, the system comprising a vessel adapted to:
- combine the PFAS with a first amendment in the vessel to create a combination, wherein the first amendment is a base selected from one or more of NaOH, Ca(OH)2, Na2CO3, KOH, NH4OH, and Mg(OH)2, and the combination having a moisture content of at least 10%;
- heat the combination in the vessel to a temperature of about 200° C. to about 700° C.;
- pressurize the combination in the vessel to a pressure of about 2 MPa to about 50 MPa;
- and
- hold the combination in a heated and pressurized state for a holding time sufficient to at least partially mineralize the PFAS to create a treated combination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.