Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), often referred to as “eternal chemicals,” have emerged as a key environmental and public health threat due to their association with soil and water persistence, resistance to degradation, cancer, immune dysfunction and developmental problems.
PFAS compounds commonly found in FOAMs, industrial waste and consumer products contaminate thousands of sites across the United States. Currently, major advances in PFAS destruction are being achieved.
Aquagga, Inc. recently completed a successful demonstration of the US Department of Defense (DOD) hydrothermal alkaline treatment (HALT) technology and marked a pivotal moment in its national effort to eliminate these toxic substances from the environment.
The demonstration, carried out under the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), tests HALT’s ability to challenge waste streams, including PFAS, and the results show strong promise.
Stopping technology passes critical field tests
Aquagga’s proprietary stopping technology was one of four destruction methods chosen by DOD for a rigorous field trial.
During the course of demonstrations on third-party sites in North Carolina, the company’s Steed series systems treated a variety of high concentrations of PFA waste streams, including fire service (AFFF) mixtures.
The results of the final analysis are expected by the third quarter of 2025, but early indications suggest that the outage system effectively neutralized the toxic compounds. This successful test is a key step in standardizing reliable PFA destruction methods throughout military operations.
Aquagga CTO and co-founder Dr. Brian Pickard commented:
“We have achieved safe and highly effective destruction of PFA in waste streams and proved that the solution is operating efficiently in the field.”
Cost-effective alternative to PFAS management
With its link to sustainability to the environment and serious health risks, the development of scalable and safe PFAS disruption technologies is a national priority.
Aquagga’s HALT system offers a promising solution by providing an on-site, efficient and cost-effective way to eliminate PFA.
Unlike traditional disposal techniques, which often require incineration or long-term storage, shutdowns minimize the risk of transportation and reduce federal agencies’ liability.
Opening the road to nationwide expansion
Aquagga is the first vendor to complete a full demonstration scope under the ESTCP initiative. This achievement not only examines Halt’s operational preparation, but also positions the company for widespread deployment across the national defense infrastructure.
COO and co-founder Chris Woodruff added: “We are part of this groundbreaking initiative and are grateful to work closely with key DOD stakeholders and other innovative companies to demonstrate scalable and cost-effective technology pairing to tackle the challenges of a wide range of DOD PFAS.
“We look forward to pursuing the following opportunities, reducing PFAS’s liability for DOD and eliminating harmful contaminants from the drinking water supplies of service members and neighboring communities.”
As environmental and regulatory pressures increase, this milestone could mark a new era in the destruction of PFA.
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