🔬 Innovative Thermal Technology for Effective PFAS Soil Remediation | Haemers Technologies

Haemers Technologies, a Belgian company specializing in thermal remediation, has developed a promising new solution to eliminate PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) from contaminated soils—pollutants often called “forever chemicals” due to their extreme persistence in the environment.

🔥 How Does It Work?

The method leverages a high-temperature thermal treatment adapted to the properties of PFAS:

1. Heated probes are installed directly into the soil.
2. The soil is heated to 300–400 °C, causing PFAS compounds to volatilize.
3. The contaminated vapors are extracted and either:
   • Combusted at 1,400 °C, or
   • Recycled within the system, significantly optimizing energy consumption via Smart Burners™.
4. Real-time monitoring of exhaust gases ensures compliance with environmental regulations.

✅ Proven Results

• Laboratory tests have shown >99% desorption of PFAS (including PFOS and PFOA) at 450 °C on artificially contaminated soils.
• A full-scale demonstration in Denmark successfully treated two batches of contaminated soil on site, with complete destruction of PFAS—including short-chain compounds—validated by independent analyses.
• Thanks to energy recovery, the system achieves a lower energy footprint.

🌍 Why It Matters

PFAS are linked to serious health risks such as endocrine disruption, cancer, and immunotoxicity. Traditional treatment methods are often inefficient or incomplete. This solution offers:

• A field-validated, modular, and scalable alternative.
• A meaningful contribution to tackling PFAS pollution in both soil and groundwater.

While the technology is promising, challenges remain:

• Each soil and contamination case is unique.
• Questions around scalability, cost-efficiency, and long-term sustainability still need to be addressed.

Still, this innovative Belgian initiative marks a significant step forward in the fight against persistent environmental contaminants. A development worth following closely.