Decontamination of firefighting vehicles

PFAS residues in fire engines pose a serious environmental and health risk.
With the innovative PerfluorAd® technology, Cornelsen offers an effective and tested solution for the safe decontamination of extinguishing systems.

Decontamination of emergency vehicles

Emergency vehicles that have been operated for years with PFAS-containing extinguishing agents often have considerable residues in tanks, pipes and fittings. These residues not only pose a risk to the environment, but can also contaminate fluorine-free foam concentrates. Simple draining or flushing is therefore not enough - a systematic and effective cleaning process is required. The PerfluorAd®® process was developed specifically for this challenge and enables targeted and efficient removal of PFAS compounds even in critical and hard-to-reach areas.

The three-stage cleaning process

Complete emptying
Removal of all fluorine-containing foaming agents including hidden residues in pipes, fittings and dead spaces - the basis for effective cleaning.
1
PerfluorAd®® rinse
Circulation of a rinsing solution enriched with PerfluorAd®® through the entire system - including foam tanks, pipes, pumps and monitors. This dissolves and precipitates bound PFAS particles.
2
Treatment of the rinsing solution
The contaminated rinsing solution is treated again on site with PerfluorAd®® in mobile treatment units. The resulting PFAS flakes are separated, concentrated and sent for professional disposal (thermal treatment).
3
PFAS cleaning - PerfluorAd® Typo vector 1

up to

0%
Maximum effectiveness
(depending on matrix and load)
PFAS cleaning - Screenshot 2025 05 15 at 12.46.53 scaled e1749219250728

PerfluorAd® rinsing solutions are not corrosive and therefore gentle on all pipework pipework, pumps, outlets etc.

Case study

AFFF cleaning of a fire engine

Use of PerfluorAd® technology at a major airport in California

PerfluorAd® Resources

A new Procedure for the removal of perfluorinated and polyfluorinated chemicals from complex contaminated waters