Process for treating a waste material contaminated with perfluoro-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

A process for treating a waste material contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the process comprising:

• providing a feedstock comprising the waste material, the feedstock having a moisture content;
• processing the waste material under hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) reaction conditions comprising a temperature in the range of about 300-450° C., and a pressure in the range of about 3000 psi to about 3750 psi (about 20 MPa to about 26 MPa), for a reaction time up to 15 minutes, to obtain a processed mixture comprising biocrude oil, biochar, water and PFAS components,
• wherein the waste material is processed in the absence of additional solvent and a catalyst;
• and
• separating the processed mixture into a liquid fraction comprising the biocrude oil and a portion of the PFAS components, a solid fraction comprising the biochar and a portion of the PFAS components, and an aqueous fraction substantially devoid of PFAS components.