PFAS Removal from Water

PFAS Regulation Is Tightening Globally

Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), PFOA, PFOS, and a wider family of fluorinated compounds, persist in the environment indefinitely and bioaccumulate in human tissue. The US EPA finalised drinking water maximum contaminant levels at 4 ng/L for PFOA and PFOS in 2024; the EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184 sets parallel limits; several national consents tighten further. Utilities and industrial operators face mandatory monitoring and increasingly mandatory removal.

GAC and Specialty Resin Removal Routes

Two adsorption technologies dominate PFAS removal. Granular activated carbon (high activity grades, including the SorbiTech GAC 1240) is highly effective for the long chain PFAS (PFOA, PFOS) and moderately effective for medium chain. Specialty fluorinated ion exchange resin is highly effective for the short chain PFAS (GenX, ADONA, HFPO-DA) where carbon performance falls off. The combined train delivers comprehensive PFAS removal at the regulatory limits.

Sizing and Bed Configuration

Empty bed contact time of 10 to 20 minutes is typical for general PFAS polishing. Deeper beds at the same EBCT give longer service life because the mass transfer zone is a smaller fraction of the bed volume. The polishing carbon bed sits downstream of conventional clarification and filtration; the specialty resin polishes downstream of the carbon where short chain PFAS dominate the residual.

Spent Media Disposal

Spent PFAS loaded carbon and resin require licensed thermal destruction or secure landfill under the regional hazardous waste regulation; PFAS cannot be simply discharged or reactivated at standard temperature. SorbiTech provides the spent media collection and the licensed disposal route under the operator hazardous waste manifest. Sector coverage is municipal water and industrial water treatment.