Textile Insight

TECHNOLOGY / CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT development of analytical testing methods has been playing catch-up with the continuously growing list of known PFAS compounds. ere have been some calls for a class-based approach to PFAS management that focuses on the C-F bond. e EPA recently published a dra method for adsorbable organic fluorine (AOF) to analyze PFAS as a class. Yet AOF is noticeably less sensitive, does not provide compound-specific information, and is biased toward longer-chain compounds. The most common methods used for filtering PFAS from wastewater are reverse osmosis, foam fractionation, ion resins, and granulated activated carbon. These methods have difficulty removing short- chain PFAS, especially in wastewater with high concentrations of other organic compounds and ions. Yet the U.S. National Toxicology Program found higher doses of short-chain PFAS have the same harmful health effects as their long-chain counterparts, C&EN reported. PFAS-filled filters are sent to landfills or incinerated, which merely transfers the compounds to another environmental matrix. Incineration breaks long-chain PFAS into small-chain PFAS that are spread by ash and smoke. The U.S. Department of Defense recently banned incineration of PFAS materials. Some states, the EPA and other countries are poised to enact bans. Besides the recontamination issue, both landfill and incineration disposal methods for PFAS are becoming too expensive, especially since the originator of the waste may still hold significant liability risk. Solving the PFAS Problem New technologies developed and incubated at the University of Minnesota and now being commercialized by Claros Technologies hold the promise of destroying PFAS, taking the "forever" out of "forever chemicals." The innovative technologies detect and destroy PFAS in wastewater, leaving only clean, detoxified water and naturally occurring elements. The first step is PFAS testing that uses both compound-specific methods as well as methods that address PFAS as a class, such as AOF and total organic fluorine (TOF). is type of in-depth analysis is necessary to design customized remediation strategies. is is nascent technology, and Claros Technologies is one of only three accredited labs in the United States that can detect short- and ultrashort- chain PFAS. T h e s e c o n d s t e p i s c a p t u r e a n d concentration of all short- and long-chain PFAS. New proprietary chemistries and concentration methods developed at Claros are proving more efficient in enhancing the capture and concentrating of PFAS. ey can be used alone or tailored to fit with existing capture systems such as ion resin and foam fractionation, making wide-scale adoption more feasible. Reducing millions of gallons of wastewater into a few gallons of PFAS concentrate makes destruction more manageable and affordable. e final step is permanent destruction of PFAS. Defluorination is accomplished with Elemental Destruction, which uses a photochemical process to break the powerful C-F bond and stands alone in being effective in destructing long-chain, short-chain and ultra-short-chain compounds while operating at the highest energy and cost efficiencies available. Dr. John Brockgreitens, Claros director of research and development, says, "Adopting a closed-loop system for chemical waste is a necessity. It protects public and environmental health, ensures regulatory compliance and mitigates legal liabilities for manufacturers and waste disposal companies." PFAS testing and remediation are critical for the textile and leather industries and the related apparel and footwear industries. Equally important is prevention. The question is whether there is a way to provide the performance properties that consumers have grown to expect, without PFAS. n Amy Phillips is a writer based in California. 36 • Textile Insight ~ Winter 2023 textileinsight.com CLAROSAFE CAPTURE COMPARISON CLASS OF PSAS COMPOUNDS CAPTURE PERFORMANCE Short Chain PFHxS PFBA PFBS PFPeA >98% removal at parts per billion and parts per trillion. Long Chain PFNA PFOA PFHpA PFHxS PFHxA >99.5% removal at parts per billion and parts per trillion. The De-Stilling process.

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