While various per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) destruction technologies either have been or are currently being piloted in demonstration trials, there is a clear need for additional cost-effective PFAS destruction technologies for treatment of concentrated residuals generated from the treatment of PFAS-impacted soil, groundwater, and surface water. The objective of this project is to validate the cost and performance of a mobile plasma vortex (PV) technology for PFAS destruction through field demonstration trials using concentrated PFAS samples from various media types. Specific technical questions to be addressed during this demonstration include:

1. Can the technology achieve >99.99% destruction and mineralization of total PFAS in concentrated samples derived from foam fractionation of groundwater and rinsates from AFFF vessel cleaning?
2. Can the technology operate under vacuum pressure and in a closed-loop recirculation mode, ensuring no liquid residuals or gases are released into the environment post-PFAS destruction?
3. Can the technology provide destruction and mineralization of concentrated PFAS samples at comparable cost per unit volume versus high temperature incineration and also versus disposal at hazardous waste landfill sites?

Onvector has recently enhanced the PV technology by employing plasma at pressures below ambient, known as ‘vacuum plasma.’ This approach lowers the ionization energy (i.e., breakdown voltage) required for plasma formation, as indicated by the Paschen curve. This improvement enhances the energy efficiency of PFAS destruction in the PV reactor. Specific performance aspects requiring validation during the demonstration include confirming the efficiency trends of PFAS destruction observed in laboratory studies using vacuum plasma, demonstrating low operating costs (including energy and consumables), and showing these characteristics across a range of PFAS concentrates.

Successful results from this work will provide an additional capability to cost-effectively treat concentrated residuals generated from the treatment of PFAS-impacted soil and waters. Such advancements in large-scale PFAS remediation and destruction will contribute to sustainment of force readiness and the operational capacity of the defense industrial base, preventing disruptions to production and supply chains. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2027)