Cornelsen and Fraunhofer UMSICHT in the Perfluor.Dat project

Author: Dr Verena Stenert

Dr Verena Stenert has a doctorate in chemistry and has been working in the water purification industry for almost two decades. She has been working intensively on the removal of PFAS for over ten years and contributes her extensive expertise to a wide range of cleaning processes.

At Cornelsen Umwelttechnologie GmbH, she is responsible for managing research projects and carries out laboratory and technical centre tests on behalf of customers. A particular focus is on the innovative and patented PerfluorAd® process for PFAS removal, which she regularly presents at specialist events and customer presentations.

With a keen sense for technical developments and new analytical approaches, Dr Stenert is constantly working on further developing existing processes - because the challenges in the field of PFAS elimination are constantly growing.

PFAS - persistent and widespread. The large group of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances comprises several thousand compounds that have been used in numerous industrial applications - and at the same time represent a considerable challenge for the environment, industry and society.

With the PerfluorAd® process, Cornelsen and the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT have established a tried-and-tested technology that efficiently and economically removes certain PFAS from aqueous media. The process has already been successfully launched on the market - in Germany, the UK, the Benelux countries, Scandinavia and the USA.

As part of the research project funded by the state of NRW Perfluor.Dat we are continuing to develop this process together - with the aim of making the application even more flexible, effective and internationally compatible.

Goal: Process optimisation for a new generation of PFAS processing

The project pursues a holistic approach to optimising the PerfluorAd® process. The focus is on the following technical and scientific objectives:

Recording and analysing existing applications to derive relevant influencing factors
Testing of new co-additives to improve reaction efficiency and filterability
Validation of measurement methods such as conductivity, total fluorine or TOC for process monitoring
Development of a digital data management system that records and analyses measured values and converts them into models for process control
Feasibility studies for practical implementation in PerfluorAd® treatment plants

The potential for optimisation is considerable:

Significant reduction in the residual concentrations of PFAS and TOC
Better sedimentation, flotation and filterability of the flocs formed
Use of a multifunctional additive that also captures hydrophilic PFAS that are particularly difficult to degrade, such as PFBA
Extension of the area of application to very low PFAS concentrations below 10 µg/L

Cornelsen contributes its many years of practical experience to the further development and works closely with Fraunhofer UMSICHT to translate the results into robust, application-ready solutions.

Diverse areas of application - national and international

The process is already being used successfully in various fields of application, e.g. in the preparation of:

Water from the maintenance of extinguishing systems, containers, sprinklers and emergency vehicles
Industrial process wastewater
Concentrates from reverse osmosis or nanofiltration
Landfill leachate
Water from floor washing systems
PFAS-contaminated groundwater

With the further development within the scope of Perfluor.Dat makes the process even more versatile - even at very low PFAS concentrations and under country-specific requirements.

For whom is this relevant?

can benefit in particular:

Operators of soil washing, industrial plants and landfills
Persons responsible for civil and military airfield infrastructure
Operators of stationary extinguishing systems and emergency vehicles
Chemical and petrochemical industry
Environmental authorities, supervisory bodies and water boards

The combination of research, practical knowledge and digitalisation creates a system that not only reacts, but also learns - for more efficient, transparent and sustainable water treatment.

Thinking ahead together

The project Perfluor.Dat shows how new standards can be set in dealing with PFAS through targeted cooperation. The combination of scientific depth and practical application proximity strengthens NRW as a centre of technology - and makes an active contribution to the sustainable reduction of PFAS emissions into the environment.

For clean water. For a safe future.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the PerfluorAd® process and the Perfluor.Dat project

What is the PerfluorAd® process?

The PerfluorAd® process is an innovative precipitation process for removing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) from aqueous media. It combines physical precipitation with subsequent separation of the PFAS-containing flocs and is already being used successfully in various countries.

Where is the PerfluorAd® process already being used?

The process is currently successfully launched on the market in Germany, the UK, the Benelux countries, Scandinavia and the USA. It is used in industrial water treatment, in refurbishment projects and in the maintenance of extinguishing systems.

Which media can be treated with the PerfluorAd® process?

The process is suitable for the preparation of:

Water from the maintenance of extinguishing systems, sprinklers, containers and emergency vehicles
Industrial wastewater and process water
Concentrates from reverse osmosis or nanofiltration
Leachate from landfills and soil washing water
PFAS-contaminated groundwater

What is the Perfluor.Dat project?

Perfluor.Dat is a research project funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia with the aim of further developing and optimising the PerfluorAd® process. It is being carried out jointly by Cornelsen Umwelttechnologie GmbH and the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT.

What are the aims of the Perfluor.Dat project?

The project pursues the following goals, among others:

Analysing existing application data to identify relevant process parameters
Testing of new co-additives to improve separation performance
Development of simple measurement methods for process control (e.g. DOC, total fluorine)
Development of a digital data management system for process optimisation
Practical tests in real processing plants

Which PFAS can be removed with PerfluorAd®?

The process effectively removes a broad spectrum of anionic PFAS - including long and short-chain compounds such as PFBA. The use of multifunctional additives also makes it possible to treat hydrophilic PFAS.

What advantages does PerfluorAd® offer over other PFAS technologies?

High separation efficiency combined with low operating costs
Minimising the amount of waste containing PFAS
Mobile and stationary use possible
Easily scalable and internationally applicable
User-friendly measurement methods and data-driven control

For whom is the process particularly interesting?

The procedure is aimed at:

Operators of soil washing plants, industrial plants and landfills
Operators of stationary extinguishing systems and emergency vehicles
Responsible for military and civil airports
Companies in the chemical and petrochemical industry
Environmental authorities and supervisory bodies

How does the further development of the Perfluor.Dat project actually work?

The project involves testing new chemical additives, analysing practical data and developing digital models for process control. The aim is a learning system that can be flexibly adapted to different PFAS sources and legal requirements.