Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Innovative waste minimisation during PFAS contaminated water remediation
Marilyn M. Sinnett, P.E.Steve Woodard, Ph.D., P.E.Mark Kuffer
Emerging Compounds Treatment Technologies (ECT2)
Presentation outline• RAAF Base Tindal• Water treatment objectives• Water treatment approach• Waste minimisation• Conclusion
RAAF Base Tindal
• Located in the Northern Territory• 320 km from Darwin; 12 km from Katherine• 122 sqkm• Used in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s by a RAAF squadron• Upgraded from 1963 to 1970 for both military and civilian uses
• known as ‘bare base’• Formally established as RAAF Base Tindal in 1987• Shares facilities with the Katherine Tindal Civilian airport
RAAF Base Tindal
RAAF Base Tindal
• Environmental investigation identified PFAS in groundwater across an area of approximately 4km long and 2-3km wide
• Production bores on the eastern side of Katherine River appear to have drawn PFAS contamination in that direction, against the natural groundwater flow
• PFAS was identified in a bore used to supplement drinking water for the Katherine community• Addressed separately to the water treatment activities on RAAF Base
Tindal
Water treatment objectives
• Reduce PFAS concentrations in source to mitigate offsite impacts
• Minimise waste generation during water treatment• Maximise utilisation of water treatment capacity
• Minimal downtime• Maximise volume of water treated
ECT2 approach
• ECT2 SORBIX M12 treatment systems selected• Unique and selective resin blends• Central regeneration plant
• Treatment systems same as Katherine Power and Water Corporation treatment system
ECT2 approach
PFOS molecule
Simplified resin bead
Regenerable IEX Resin SORBIXTM
ECT2 approach
ECT2 approach
Water treatment activities
• Groundwater extracted via multiple wells in the source areas
• Treated water reinjected via well network• Influent PFAS concentrations at the Fire Station
Area range up to 50µg/l• Up to 60µg/l in the Fire Training Area
Water treatment activities
Water treatment activities
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
45.00
50.00
55.00
28-Mar-2019 11-Apr-2019 25-Apr-2019 9-May-2019 23-May-2019 6-Jun-2019 20-Jun-2019 4-Jul-2019
Tota
l PFA
S (p
pb)
RAAF TDL FSA WTP - Influent and Treated Water Total PFAS from Start-up: 28-Mar-19 to 17-Jul-19
INFLUENT TREATED WATER
Water treatment activities
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
45.00
50.00
55.00
60.00
65.00
29-Nov-2018 29-Dec-2018 29-Jan-2019 28-Feb-2019 31-Mar-2019 30-Apr-2019 31-May-2019 30-Jun-2019
Tota
l PFA
S (p
pb)
RAAF TDL FTA WTP - Influent and Treated Water Total PFAS from Start-up: 29-Nov-18 to 17-Jul-19
INFLUENT TREATED WATER
Waste minimisation
• Innovative technology recently patented in the US• Removes PFAS compounds from resin using proprietary
regenerant solution• Vessel returned to treatment train within 8 hours
• Less than 1 hour downtime in total to remove and return vessel to treatment train
• Regenerant solution processed through distillation and superloading process
Waste minimisation
• For every 10m litres treated, approximately 1 litre of superloader media expended• Approximately 2 billion litres of water will be treated before a
187 litre superloader vessel is expended
• Regenerant solution recycled and reused
Waste minimisation
Regeneration
Regenerant storage tank
Conclusion
• 250 million litres of water treated to date• 25 litres of waste generated to date• ECT2 estimates 7.2kg of PFAS removed from the Tindall aquifer
which equates to 41,000 Olympic sized swimming pools with PFAS concentrations above HBGVs
• Technology minimises:• need for future generations to solve issues surrounding media with
concentrated PFAS• reliance on subsequent thermal and other energy intensive destruction
technologies and logistical challenges in transportation of concentrated waste products
