Evaluation of PFAS Treatment in Industrial Water

Recovered contaminated groundwater from a former manufacturing site was discovered to contain PFAS, which must be removed prior to direct discharge to surface water or indirect discharge to a local sanitary sewer from a groundwater collection system. The groundwater also contains phosphorus which must be removed to 30 ug/L during the summer growing season for a direct discharge. Bench testing was...

Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response (RACER) Trust manages the environmental remediation and coordinates redevelopment of the former General Motors (GM) Powertrain manufacturing facility site adjacent to the Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The former manufacturing facility has been razed and is in the process of being redeveloped. Currently the water generated from a...

Bench testing objectives include determining the following on groundwater from the site:

Jar testing was performed with doses of ferric chloride from 10-100 milligrams per liter (mg/L), polyaluminum chloride from 10-50 mg/L, alum from 50 to 100 mg/L, and lime addition to a pH of 8. A dose of ferric chloride at 50 mg/L was the only treatment which resulted in phosphorus removal at about a 30 percent reduction. Further analysis revealed that orthophosphate represented about 30 percent...

Based on the bench test results to date, AIX resin achieved much higher bed volumes treated than activated carbon. This result was expected due to the presence of 15-20 mg/L of TOC which has the potential to adsorb to GAC and is significantly higher than the total PFAS concentration (at approximately 1 ug/L). Once AIX resin breakthrough is achieved, the economics of the two processes will be...

In summary, both GAC and AIX resin resulted in PFAS concentrations below the detection limits and in compliance with the Michigan WQS. GAC media usage is significantly higher than AIX resin media usage based on bench testing results to date. AIX resin test will continue until breakthrough.

1 Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), in response to an Executive Order issued by Governor Whitmer, is engaged in a process to establish new Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA, PFOS and other PFAS to be determined. Recommendations from the MPART Science Advisory... 11 Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), in response to an Executive Order issued by Governor Whitmer, is engaged in a process to establish new Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA, PFOS and other PFAS to be determined. Recommendations from the MPART Science Advisory »

ITRC Technical and Regulatory Guidance Fact Sheet for PFAS, 2018