Solving Industrial PFAS challenges in the United States: tailored solutions for every sector

Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination is dominating environmental discussions, particularly in relation to drinking water. But it isn’t just municipal water that is affected by PFAS — industrial facilities face the same challenge.Treating PFAS at industrial sources before discharge to municipal wastewater treatment plants can significantly reduce downstream contamination and public health risks.


PFAS are used across numerous industries for their resistance to heat, chemicals and oil. However, these same properties make them difficult to remove from wastewater. Addressing industrial PFAS contamination isn’t a one-size-fits-all problem, but several recurring themes emerge. PFAS remains in the environment indefinitely and spreads easily through water systems, requiring proactive, high-efficiency treatment methods.


Industrial wastewater contains a range of contaminants in addition to PFAS, including suspended solids, organics, various salts and other substances that can interfere with treatment processes. With continuously evolving state and federal regulations, some industries hesitate to invest in PFAS treatment. However, PFAS restrictions or monitoring requirements are becoming more common, making proactive treatment more of a necessity. Many U.S. states, like Maine, already require PFAS monitoring and restrictions via discharge permits, and France passed a bill earlier this year banning PFAS in certain consumer products. While some applications are well served using activated carbon or ion exchange, these solutions can become costly and inefficient without complementary technologies.


At Veolia, we’re dedicated to a safer, cleaner future. Our suite of end-to-end solutions, Beyond PFAS, empowers companies and municipalities to enable positive ecological transformation for their communities. Here are key sectors where our solutions deliver the greatest impact:


Landfill leachate
A nationwide evaluation by the EPA showed that PFAS is present in leachate in over 95% of landfills. Rainwater percolates through layers of waste, leaching PFAS and other contaminants that landfills must, in turn, treat before discharge. Unlike other industries where PFAS is introduced through direct manufacturing processes, landfills accumulate PFAS from a wide range of sources. 


Because landfill leachate also contains high concentrations of other chemicals and materials, standard PFAS treatment processes are negatively impacted. New technologies that offer bulk separation, like foam fractionation, can be used in combination with highly effective off-site high temperature incineration or some of the newer on-site disposal processes such as super critical water oxidation, plasma treatment or electrochemical oxidation. Foam fractionation can perform bulk separation of many types of PFAS and produce a high concentration, low volume foam. The production of a high concentration of PFAS containing foam can enable both cost effective off-site and on-site disposal technologies. Bulk separation methods also tolerate non-PFAS materials as well which are often present in these complex wastewaters.


Semiconductors 
The semiconductor industry relies on many PFAS-based materials to manufacture microchips, creating diverse and complex wastewater streams. These facilities are often quite large and treatment is required to reuse or meet strict regulatory standards. PFAS contamination poses a particular challenge in water reuse or treatment due to the variety of PFAS chemicals present. Semiconductor wastewater often contains salts, solvents and metal ions in addition to PFAS, which complicate treatment. 


Since these facilities are highly dependent on the supply of large amounts of ultra-pure water and PFAS based process chemistry for their manufacturing, PFAS treatment must be implemented on both large flowrate and a wide range of PFAS types and concentrations.  If the wastewater is treated for reuse within the facility, it must be done so as not to negatively affect production. Ultrafiltration is an effective pretreatment method  on these wastewaters prior to PFAS concentration using reverse osmosis (RO). RO is up to 98% effective for removing certain PFAS compounds, according to an EPA study. However, without proper pre-treatment, RO membranes can foul, reducing their effectiveness. Integrating RO with ultrafiltration ensures consistent performance, regulatory compliance and operational continuity without excessive maintenance or downtime.


Chemical processing industries (CPI)
Chemical manufacturers that produce or utilize PFAS face an intricate challenge, as their wastewater streams often contain high concentrations of many types of PFAS in addition to organic and inorganic pollutants. These waste streams can be unpredictable and highly variable, making treatment solutions complex. Many large CPI companies have already invested in treatment systems to reduce PFAS emissions, but smaller and mid-sized operations are still in the process of quantifying the levels of PFAS. 


CPI waste streams vary significantly based on production cycles, making a flexible treatment approach essential. A combination of biological treatment and advanced filtration, such as nanofiltration and RO, can address PFAS and co-contaminants simultaneously. Additionally, emerging destruction technologies like electrochemical oxidation or plasma treatment are being explored to prevent the accumulation of concentrated PFAS waste.


A U.S. facility needed to treat PFAS-contaminated process wastewater containing very high concentrations of compounds like PFOS, PFHxA, PFBA and PMPA. Veolia designed a treatment train combining filtration and two-pass membrane separation followed by carbon adsorption and ion exchange polishing. The system reduced PFAS concentrations to below detection limits — typically less than 1 to 5 parts per trillion — making the treated water fit for reuse as boiler feed. It also recovered 80% of the water for onsite reuse and reduced the volume of waste requiring disposal by 80%, saving the customer over $1 million annually.


Hydrocarbon processing (HPI)
Refineries and hydrocarbon processing plants have historically used PFAS-based aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), which is also used for firefighting. AFFF leads to long-term contamination in wastewater and site runoff. Aside from PFAS, these sites also typically contain hydrocarbons, various salts, heavy metals and other organic compounds. Many refineries also face legacy contamination issues, as PFAS compounds have accumulated in groundwater and surrounding soil for decades. 


The challenge with HPI wastewater is that traditional treatment methods designed for hydrocarbons do not effectively tackle PFAS, requiring a multi-step approach. A series of processes, including filtration, bulk separation and adsorption, can effectively target both PFAS and hydrocarbons, providing a comprehensive treatment solution. Additionally, in-situ remediation techniques, such as groundwater extraction and treatment, can manage long-term contamination from historical use of firefighting foam (AFFF).


A holistic approach
While each industrial sector presents unique challenges, Veolia’s end-to-end PFAS solutions provide a scalable approach. From initial sampling and lab testing to full-scale treatment and hazardous waste disposal, Veolia helps industries mitigate PFAS risks while navigating regulatory landscapes.


Implementing a combination of membrane technologies, media-based solutions and targeted separation methods allows companies to proactively manage PFAS contamination regardless of their industry. If you’re looking to implement a PFAS treatment strategy, our experts can develop customized solutions designed for long-term sustainability and effectiveness. Reach out to Veolia to learn more about how targeted PFAS remediation can work for your facility.