Effective against PFAS: terraplasma successfully tests its own cold plasma technology for water treatment (PHOTO)
Garching near Munich (ots) – Successful initial attempts to treat drinking water contaminated with PFAS: this is how it worked terraplasma, the innovation leader in the area of development and implementation of applications with cold atmospheric plasma (in short: cold plasma or cold plasma), uses its self-developed energy-saving cold plasma technology for water treatment to significantly measurably reduce PFAS in addition to other substances such as microorganisms. In a first, larger series of tests with real water samples from a southern Bavarian PFAS hotspot, some of the so-called “forever chemicals” were reduced by up to almost 30%. Reason enough for the company to further optimize its technology and, together with potential partners, develop it into a finished solution for water treatment.
Durable but unfortunately (almost) indestructible
PFAS (Phe and polyFluorized AlkylSsubstances) do not occur in nature, but are industrially produced chemicals and are used specifically in production, but also in private households, due to their water- and fat-repellent properties as well as their extreme stability and longevity (hence the term “forever chemicals”) used.
In industry, PFAS are used in a number of specialized applications, for example in the production of durable plastics, in chrome plating, in the production of semiconductors and in photographic processes.
But they are also used at home in a number of consumer goods, such as paints, leather and textile coatings, (outdoor) clothing, shoes, carpets, packaging, ski wax, floor and car care products, as well as for the production of papers with dirt-repellent , grease and water-repellent properties and as components of waterproofing and lubricants.
Many PFAS are toxic and accumulate through the food chain. The following applies to all PFAS: once they have been released into the environment, they are almost impossible to remove and enter the soil via the air or wastewater and then into drinking water and thus enter the bodies of people and animals. As a result, they represent one of the greatest challenges for drinking water protection and environmental protection.
Test treatment with water contaminated by PFAS production
For many decades (although some manufacturers knew about their toxic effects since the early 1970s), PFAS were the epitome of modern, problem-solving chemistry. Industrial production of a wide variety of PFAS soon began in the Gendorf Chemical Park, which was founded in 1964 (part of the municipality of Burgkirchen an der Alz in the Altötting district in Upper Bavaria). It was only at the end of the 1990s that production began to be designed in such a way that only a few PFAS were released into the environment. Nevertheless, due to decades of industrial production, there are clearly detectable quantities of PFAS in the soil and therefore also in the deep drinking water sources. This water is therefore a suitable test basis for checking the effectiveness of a cold plasma treatment.
Cold plasma for water treatment successfully passes the first test
The PFAS problem in Burgkirchen (one of around 1,500 hotspots nationwide) is currently being solved with a complex drinking water purification system that uses various purification and treatment technologies – including UV, activated carbon and oxygen/carbon dioxide – to process the contaminated water through several processing stages to turn it back into legally compliant drinking water. But removing PFAS – specifically PFOA – with activated carbon has the disadvantage that it can only filter out PFAS (and not break it down into more harmless substances). The silo-sized activated carbon filters also have to be replaced every year at the latest due to their increasing degree of saturation – the costs for operation and the activated carbon are around 500,000 euros per year.
With the treatment of the contaminated water using terraplasma’s cold plasma technology, a first extensive test revealed a partially clearly measurable reduction in PFOA in particular: up to 30% less could be measured after the treatment. This first test was carried out in a test setup that was not specifically optimized, in which the cold plasma obtained from the ambient air was blown into the contaminated water via a special Venturi nozzle. In addition to the reduction, the low energy consumption of the technology used is also noteworthy: the plasma sources are operated with approx. 4W – this corresponds to an extrapolated energy requirement of 0.015 kWh/cubic meter of water.
Partner wanted for a meaningful task with good future prospects
With this improvised test use of cold plasma to break down PFAS, in addition to proof of effectiveness, a positive trend in terms of cost-effectiveness in possible real operation was also identified: water treatment requires only a small amount of electrical energy to achieve measurable effectiveness.
These initial promising results motivate the terraplasma team to continue testing and developing this important topic – preferably with a partner company, ideally from the water treatment sector, because the development of scaled systems for real use is complex and cold plasma technology will replace these established treatment processes not replace it, but ideally supplement it sustainably.
About terraplasma
Founded in 2011 as a spin-off of the Max Plank Society, terraplasma GmbH, based in Garching near Munich, offers innovative solutions and technologies for the development of cold plasma products in areas where bacteria, fungi, viruses, spores, allergens and odor molecules efficiently and must be permanently inactivated or harmful molecules cause problems. Cold plasmas are partially ionized gases that, thanks to their high effectiveness, can replace conventional chemicals or other technologies such as UV, heat or radiation in an increasing number of applications.
With its proven basic technologies, terraplasma works with well-known companies in the areas of medical technology, hygiene, water treatment, odor management, air purification, cosmetics and surface modification, among others. It is terraplasma’s goal to further develop and market its environmentally friendly cold plasma solutions in line with needs together with these partners from the industry. A young team that works with a lot of creativity and sophistication, extensive know-how in the areas of cold plasma research and technology as well as numerous patents support the GreenTech company on its path to success.
More information at https://www.terraplasma.com/
Questions & Contact:
Florian Kreutz
cross@terraplasma.com
+49 89 95 45 769 0