Chris Edwards, Fermilab’s engineering project manager, talks about his collaboration with Proficio to develop a method to treat water contaminated with PFAS using Fermilab’s electron beam technology.
The presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water systems is a pressing public health and environmental safety concern across the United States and beyond, as they prevent degradation and accumulate in ecosystems. Fermilab, in collaboration with Proficio Consultancy, is further addressing this challenge by leveraging advanced electron beam technology to develop an innovative water treatment system.
We spoke with Chris Edwards, Fermilab’s engineering project manager, to explore the development of this pioneering technology and uncover its potential to transform water treatment practices and protect public health.
Could you give us an overview of your collaboration with Proficio on water treatment systems targeting PFAS? How did this project come about and what progress has been made to date?
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) has hired Proficio Consultants to provide process engineering expertise to help design an industry-grade pre- and post-treatment system that can flow water to Fermilab’s electron beam accelerator.
The project comes as Fermilab’s Illinois Accelerator Research Center (IARC) group, which helps bring technologies developed for particle physics applications to broader applications, is developing an industrial superconducting radio frequency (SRF) accelerator. Destroying PFAS is one of several applications where this technology could benefit the nation and the world. As development of the accelerator progressed, we also wanted to begin designing other parts of the complete water treatment system, such as pre- and post-treatment skids.
We have completed the design and analysis of the system with Proficio and are now moving into manufacturing and installation, which is expected to take place this year.
Can you explain the electron beam technology developed at Fermilab? How does it work to destroy PFAS, and what makes this design so effective?
Fermilab has developed a compact, high-power electron beam accelerator for industrial and environmental applications, including PFAS destruction. Unlike the large accelerators used in scientific research, this system is robust, efficient, and designed to be deployed outside of a laboratory environment.
Using this technology, high-energy electrons are generated and sent into the contaminated water stream. When the electron beam interacts with water, it triggers a process known as radiolysis, which splits water molecules into highly reactive species such as hydrated electrons and hydroxyl radicals. These reactive species are highly effective at attacking the strong carbon-fluorine bonds that make PFAS so persistent in the environment.
Rather than simply separating PFAS from water or concentrating them as secondary waste, as in traditional water treatment methods, the electron beam chemically breaks down the molecules, ultimately converting them into inorganic end products such as fluoride ions, carbon dioxide, and small organic fragments. This approach avoids the generation of secondary waste streams that require further treatment.
Several components make SRF electron beam accelerators an effective solution to PFAS destruction.
High Flow Capability: The electron beam delivers energy directly to the water, allowing treatment at significantly higher flow rates than many current PFAS destruction methods. This makes the technology suitable for a variety of applications.
Continuous or Batch Processing Approach: The system can be designed to operate as in-line process water, where water flows through a beam, or in a batch/off-site configuration, providing flexibility. This allows for flexible usage depending on the application and customer.
Destruction of a variety of contaminants: In addition to destroying PFAS, electron beams can also destroy other organic contaminants in waste streams.
Higher efficiency than copper accelerators: SRF technology has significantly lower electrical losses than copper RF systems, enabling higher throughput with increased efficiency, reduced heat load, and increased reliability.
What is the current state of PFAS contamination in the United States, and what dangers do these “forever chemicals” pose to water systems and public health?
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, one common concern is that PFAS degrade very slowly and can accumulate in people, animals, and the environment over time. Additionally, some types of PFAS can be harmful to human health.
What is the importance of pretreatment and conditioning phases in the treatment of PFAS?
Waste pretreatment allows the treatment of different forms of waste (foam concentrates, recycled waste from granular activated carbon (GAC)/polymers), and the water chemistry can be modified to improve the efficiency of electron beam interaction with PFAS by changing the oxygen content, pH, etc.
What are the main challenges faced in PFAS research? How are Fermilab’s infrastructure and scientific capabilities positioned to address the challenges posed by PFAS contamination in water systems?
PFAS research faces several fundamental challenges. First, PFAS are a large and diverse group of compounds with very strong carbon and fluorine bonds, making them highly resistant to chemical, biological, and thermal degradation. Treatments that are effective for one PFAS compound may be ineffective for others, complicating both research and implementation.
Second, many existing technologies focus on removal rather than destruction, such as adsorption or filtration. While these methods can reduce PFAS concentrations, they generate secondary waste streams that still need to be managed or destroyed, changing rather than solving the problem.
Fermilab approaches the PFAS challenge through the lens of accelerator science and systems engineering, focusing on how high-power SRF electron beam accelerators can be applied to destroy PFAS in water.
Fermilab has extensive expertise in accelerator systems, which enables the development of high-throughput, in-line treatment systems that can operate at flow rates associated with industrial and municipal water treatment, an area where many PFAS technologies are lacking.
What are the next steps for this project, both from a design and implementation standpoint? Once the water treatment system is up and running, how will you measure its success?
Pre- and post-processing skids will be manufactured this year and integrated into our electron beam accelerator. Fermilab’s IARC team will conduct extensive testing with the new system to continue advancing PFAS destruction efforts.
We partner with various companies and sites with varying concentrations of contaminated waste and use new systems to treat this waste. Testing with different concentrations of waste from different partners allows for full validation of the system by running tests in different conditions.
In the future, we envision a scalable and field-deployable version. Is there an expected timeline? What will it take to achieve this?
Development toward scalable, field-deployable electron beam systems is expected to proceed in stages rather than on a single, fixed schedule. The current focus is on demonstrating reliable continuous operation and PFAS destruction performance under controlled conditions representative of real-world water treatment systems.
Progress toward field deployment is driven by technical milestones and partner needs. When these elements come together, opportunities for pilot-scale demonstrations naturally follow.
Given the urgency of the PFAS issue and the importance of collaboration with regional innovators, does Fermilab have any additional PFAS-related projects planned? What areas of PFAS research could Fermilab contribute to in the future, and are there any specific areas of PFAS research that should be prioritized?
IARC is working on various fronts to address PFAS issues, including working with the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and industry partners in the PFAS field. This system is just one part of an overall approach to addressing this problem. We are working with various partners to explore all avenues and applications.
conclusion
The collaboration between Fermilab and Proficio demonstrates the effective use of electron beam technology in combating PFAS contamination. This highlights the importance of advanced scientific research to transform water treatment practices to efficiently remove residual contaminants. Successful implementation of this technology could pave the way for new standards in water treatment and set a precedent for future efforts to tackle complex environmental problems. To learn more about this project and Fermilab’s other efforts, visit the IARC website for more information and updates on ongoing research and development.
This article will be published in an upcoming PFAS Special Focus Publication in April.
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