Soil washing systems and PFAS: cleaning soils sustainably

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.

Soil washing systems and PFAS: cleaning soils sustainably

Soil contaminated with perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) poses a serious environmental and health challenge. These pollutants are extremely stable, which makes their disposal particularly complicated. In addition, in many regions there is little or no landfill capacity available for such contaminated material. Simple disposal by removal is therefore often no longer an option. This is precisely where we at the Cornelsen Group come in: With our soil cleaning solutions, we help to reduce PFAS contamination in the long term.

PFAS and their consequences

Due to their chemical structure, PFAS are hardly degradable and remain in the soil and groundwater for very long periods of time. This can lead to large-scale pollution that is difficult to contain. For local authorities, companies, construction projects and environmental authorities, the question therefore arises as to how these pollutants can be efficiently removed from the soil or at least bound without having to resort to expensive and often unavailable landfill sites.

Two ways to decontaminate

Cornelsen supports operators of floor washing systems in sustainably cleaning process water and minimising PFAS contamination.

Stabilisation with Rembind

This involves adding a special reagent to the soil that chemically binds PFAS. In this form, the substances can hardly be released into the environment. Cornelsen cooperates exclusively with Rembind in selected countries and thus offers a tried-and-tested, ready-to-use solution when it comes to immobilising PFAS in the soil.

Floor washing systems

Soil washing is a particularly effective solution for permanently removing PFAS from the soil. In this process, the contaminated soil is thoroughly mixed with water and broken down into its various components. Recyclable materials such as sand and gravel can be reused after cleaning, while the remaining pollutants, including PFAS, are isolated and finally disposed of safely using high-temperature incineration.

A crucial element in this process is our patented PerfluorAd® technologywhich is specially designed for the targeted separation of PFAS compounds. This technology makes all the difference because it plays a key role in effectively removing PFAS from the environment and returning both soil and water to the cycle in a clean state.

Benefits for people and the environment

Both processes make an important contribution to protecting the environment:

PFAS are largely immobilised by stabilisation with Rembind.
Soil washing requires the contaminated material to be moved to the treatment plant.
After cleaning, the material is generally not returned to its original location, but rather:
- safely deposited in a DK 0 or DK 1 landfill or
- reused in road construction (sustainable, but cost-intensive).
Treating the process water with PerfluorAd® ensures that:
- the purified water can remain in the circuit for longer or
- safely decontaminated and discharged.

Innovation and many years of experience

Our team at the Cornelsen Group can look back on over 25 years of experience in environmental technology. During this time, we have managed numerous projects and developed solutions based on state-of-the-art science and technology. This expertise enables us to design customised concepts - from planning and support to the construction of individual systems.

Decontaminating PFAS-contaminated soil is and remains a complex task. But with the right technologies and partners at your side, this challenge can be mastered.

Our partners in the floor washing sector - supported by our patented PerfluorAd® technology - are enabled to decontaminate their water streams in an environmentally friendly way.

This benefits local authorities, construction companies and many others - as well as the environment: