PFAS

PFAS materials were designed for the stable formation of foams and surfactant properties, and are utilised where heat and oil stability and resistances are desired, such as aqueous film forming foams (AFFF). The OCRA process exploits one property of PFAS contamination - stable foam formation. This foam is readily produced and removed by the process, providing an economical approach to contaminant removal in otherwise complex waters.

The formation of foam within PFAS contaminated waters also has other benefits in removing co-contaminants that are either: removed by flotation (such as sediment) or are entrained in the gas/liquid phase extremely high surface area (organics).

The highly oxidising environment within the OCRA process created by the injected ozone gas also leads to more efficient removal and stabilisation of PFAS chemicals. As PFAS ages, pre-cursor and longer chain PFAS (typically 6+ carbon length) are broken down via oxidisation into their final forms of short chain PFAS (shorter than 6 carbons). This provides a final treatment option where long term issues may arise due to degradation of pre-cursor PFAS molecules into problematic forms. This formation of these short-chain PFAS can also be reduced and optimised by variations early in the OCRA process.

The OCRA process can then be used to remove PFAS contamination to low levels, and if strict discharge requirements are required, a polishing process can also be installed downstream for complete removal.