42 Environmental Laboratory SCANDINAVIAN SUCCESS: LEADING THE WAY IN AIRPORT PFAS REMEDIATION
Introduction Airports worldwide are tackling the critical environmental issue of PFAS (per- and polyfl uoroalkyl substances) contamination, primarily caused by the prolonged use of fi refi ghting foams. Jeff rey Lewis from ECT2 discusses the extensive contamination of water sources and the health and environmental risks involved. With new regulatory pressures, airports are adopting rigorous testing and remediation methods. A leading example from Scandinavia shows a major airport initiating a comprehensive remediation project for PFAS from fi re training activities, establishing new environmental standards in the aviation industry.
in emergency response and fi refi ghting training has raised signifi cant health and environmental concerns. This foam, previously used at airports, military bases, and fi re training sites, has contaminated various environments. With new European and global regulations emerging, the airport community is under increasing pressure to investigate, test, and remediate PFAS contamination. These evolving regulations are set to shape the treatment and management of PFAS, potentially introducing future liabilities. As a result, treating PFAS contamination is becoming a critical focus for airports to ensure both regulatory compliance and environmental safety.
Evaluating technologies: From foam fractionation to ion exchange
The airport operator was determined to address the PFAS contamination with a robust and effi cient approach that not only met its stringent criteria for effectiveness and sustainability but also offered economic feasibility and rapid deployment. The search for the right solution led to a competitive tendering process, during which the airport operator’s environmental team evaluated a range of progressive treatment technologies.
In Scandinavia, the issue has prompted decisive action. One major airport, recognising the critical nature of this contamination, has taken a proactive stance on environmental stewardship by initiating a comprehensive remediation project.
Addressing PFAS contamination
in the aviation sector Airports globally are grappling with a pressing environmental challenge: PFAS contamination. Historically, many airports used fi refi ghting foams containing PFAS during emergency drills and operational responses. This persistent use has led to widespread contamination of nearby groundwater and surface water, posing signifi cant environmental and health risks.
The use of aqueous fi lm forming foam (AFFF), containing PFAS,
In 2008, the airport undertook an environmental study, testing for PFAS in surface water bodies across its premises. It was during this study that the team discovered perfl uorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) for the fi rst time. Over the next decade, following continuous investigations, it became clear that the main source of PFAS contamination at the airport originated from its fi re training facility, more specifi cally from the type of fi re-fi ghting foam typically used in the past.
This led to decisive action in 2022, when the airport committed to remediate this primary source of PFAS. Launched in September 2023, this ambitious PFAS remediation project is setting new benchmarks in environmental water remediation. The decision to address PFAS-contaminated groundwater refl ects a growing awareness and responsibility among airport authorities to remedy the impacts of past practices.
Among the contenders were foam fractionation, granular activated carbon (GAC), and ion exchange, each offering unique benefi ts and potential drawbacks. After thorough analysis and comparison, the airport operator chose ECT2’s ion exchange technology, specifi cally its SORBIX™ PURE resin, for its high effi ciency and effectiveness in removing contaminants.
The chosen system was designed to tackle challenging site-specifi c needs. It was engineered to handle a maximum fl ow rate of 17 cubic metres per hour, dealing with infl uent PFAS concentrations as high as 6,200 nanograms per litre. This included tackling several hundred nanograms per litre of notoriously diffi cult-to-remove short-chain compounds such as PFBA (perfl uorobutanoic acid) and PFPeA (perfl uoropentanoic acid).
The selection of SORBIX™ PURE demonstrated the airport’s commitment to signifi cantly reducing PFAS levels, aligning with both environmental and health safety standards. This initiative not only aimed to rectify the impacts of past practices but also set a new benchmark for environmental responsibility in the aviation sector.
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