A new technology for combatting PFAS contamination is reportedly receiving $1.2 million from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to advance the system from the laboratory to field implementation.
Enspired Solutions, a Lansing-based company, announced the grant on Monday, extending a partnership with the DOD that began in 2023.
Enspired Solutions, founded in 2021, has developed the “PFASigator,” a technology that uses ultraviolet light and a proprietary reagent mix to destroy PFAS in water, breaking them down into non-toxic components without requiring off-site disposal.
The new contract will help the company transition this technology from lab scale to field scale.
The initial phase of the project will commence this summer at Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, Florida.
Specialists will use the PFASigator system to decontaminate a fire truck, simultaneously rinsing the truck and destroying PFAS chemicals onsite.
In the second phase, the system will be employed to destroy PFAS in groundwater concentrate at another, currently unnamed, defense department facility.
It remains uncertain when the technology might be available for use at PFAS-contaminated sites in Michigan.
According to company officials, the PFASigator system offers several benefits over other widely used PFAS treatment methods such as granular activated carbon capture, ion exchange, and reverse osmosis, which can result in the re-release of PFAS into the environment.
The scientific term for this technology is “photo-activated reductive defluorination.”
Enspired Solutions received recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the defense department in 2021 for its energy-efficient and cost-effective approach to PFAS destruction.
Denise Kay, CEO of Enspired Solutions, stated: “We have been working for years to create this highly efficient PFAS destruction technology and are actively partnering with water utilities to ensure that drinking water is safe.”
The PFASigator’s development and field implementation represent a significant advancement in PFAS destruction technology, offering a more efficient and environmentally friendly solution compared to existing methods.
The successful transition from lab to field scale could pave the way for widespread adoption of this technology, particularly in areas heavily impacted by PFAS contamination.
However, it remains to be seen how quickly and effectively this technology can be deployed on a larger scale and whether it will gain approval and support from additional regulatory bodies and stakeholders.
The ongoing collaboration between Enspired Solutions and the U.S. Department of Defense will be crucial in determining the technology’s future applications and potential for broader use.
