The persistent problems of PFA and the challenges posed by traditional treatment methods ensure that Invicta Water addresses the urgent need for innovative solutions to combat environmental pollution.
In recent years, the issue of sustainable environmental pollutants has moved to the forefront of global environmental and public health debates. Of these, palmfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFA or “eternal chemicals,” have become some of the most concerns. Their widespread presence, durability and potential health impacts make PFA a critical priority for scientists, regulators, communities and industries alike.
Understanding PFAs and why are they called “eternal chemicals”?
PFAS compounds are synthetic chemicals introduced in the mid-20th century due to their unique properties. They are characterized by strong carbon fluorophore bonds that contribute to their chemical stability and resistance to degradation. Because of these bonds, PFA does not break down easily in the environment, leading to the nickname “Forever Chemicals.” When released into nature, they can remain for decades and even centuries, and accumulate in the soil, water, wildlife and humans.
The ability to resist environmental collapse makes PFA highly functional in a variety of applications. They are used in the manufacture of non-stick cooking utensils, dirt-resistant fibers, water-resistant textiles, fire foam, food packaging and many other consumer products. These applications are beneficial in terms of performance, but also contribute to a wide range of environmental pollution.
Scope and impact of PFAS contamination
The widespread use of PFA has led to an astonishing level of environmental and health concerns. The Waterkeeper Alliance estimates that over 80% of US water sources are detectable levels of PFA contamination, while the US Department of the Interior estimates that 45% of the country’s tap water contains PFA. These chemicals penetrate the groundwater supply, soil and even the food chain, pose risks to human health and ecosystems.
Several epidemiological studies have established a link between PFA exposure and adverse health effects. These include increased risk of certain cancers (such as kidney and testicular cancer), liver damage, immune system suppression, hormone destruction, and child developmental problems. Furthermore, PFA exposure can impair the effectiveness of the vaccine and cause reproductive health problems.
Given these risks, governments and regulatory bodies around the world are increasingly adopting stricter standards and guidelines. In the United States, the EPA sets limits on the amount of specific PFA allowed in drinking water, with federal, state and local agencies all enacting wastewater and evacuating PFA limits for water systems. The enormous volume of contaminated sites and the resilience of PFAs make repairs a major challenge. New estimates suggest that the costs of globally cleaning and repairing PFA contamination could reach trillions of dollars, highlighting the urgent need for innovative and effective solutions.
Limitations of traditional treatment methods
Traditional approaches to removing PFA from water include activated carbon filtration, ion exchange resins, and reverse osmosis. These methods can effectively remove some PFA compounds from water, but suffer from major limitations.
Partial removal: Effective in capturing specific PFAs, but does not destroy chemicals, simply transferring from water to waste streams. Furthermore, removing short chain PFAs from water is a unique challenge for some of these methods. Secondary waste generation: using activated carbon or resin, rejecting brine from reverse osmosis, often resulting in hazardous waste that requires proper management and disposal at high cost and complexity. High operating costs: These systems require substantial energy input, critical real estate, logistics and inventory management, and frequent replacement or regeneration of filter media. Limited scalability and practicality: These technologies are often difficult to deploy at large or remote locations. These methods are considered prohibitively expensive at dollars and environmental costs on a national or global scale.
Most importantly, these methods only address symptoms (contaminated water) without eliminating root problems and chemistry itself. This creates a cycle of continuous management rather than a true solution.
Invicta Water’s innovative approach to PFAS management
Recognizing these limitations, Invicta Water has pioneered an innovative process designed to not only remove PFA from the water, but also completely destroy these persistent chemicals.
Invicta Water’s technology is based on advanced materials science and innovation, and uses a three-stage continuous process that utilizes air, water, light, and a uniquely operated crystal catalyst to extract and destroy PFA compounds.
Step 1 – Stripping
The foundation of Invicta Water’s removal process is an innovative, patent-pending foam separation technology. At this stage, PFAS molecules in the water are forced to collide with air bubbles. Due to surface activity, PFAS molecules adhere to these bubbles and are lifted out of the water stream. At the end of the stripping process there are two streams of water. This is a flow of PFAS-free drainage and foaming waste. Foramates, which are currently concentrated PFAS-containing foams, constitute only a small percentage (approximately 3-5%) of the amount of water that comes in. However, the captured PFA of this foramate is highly concentrated, often 100 times more concentrated than the original water, thus setting a stage for an efficient destruction process.
Step 2 – Concentration: Focus PFA for complete destruction
At this stage, the waste stream is currently undergoing a unique enrichment process with a significant reduction in volume. This process operates at ambient pressure and temperature. This means that no energy-intensive conditions are required, but the PFAS concentration is increased by 50-100 more times. For example, water initially containing about 20 nanograms (ng/L) of PFA per liter will be concentrated to a waste stream with a concentration of more than 100,000 ng/L upon completion of step 2, making it ideal for subsequent destruction phases.
This concentration is important to ensure that the fracture process operates under optimal conditions. This increases the overall efficiency of destruction and ensures that no residual chemicals remain.
Step 3 – Complete Destruction of PFA
The final step in the Invicta Water process is the actual destruction of concentrated PFAS waste. Unlike traditional methods of simply transferring these chemicals into waste streams, Invicta’s patent-pending system ensures complete mineralization and turns harmful PFA into harmful molecules. Mineralization occurs within the Invicta water system without the need for further transport, external media, vendors, or logistics to manage.
This process occurs in a specialized chamber where the PFAS compound is mixed with patented catalyst crystals. The conditions in the chamber are combined with a huge amount of crystal surface area (more than five soccer fields) to ensure that the PFAS compounds collide with the crystal. When they collide, the PFA is adsorbed directly onto the surface of the crystal. This “hyperlocuring” catalytic reactions occur directly on the surface of the crystal.
As PFAS molecules become directly present on the surface of the crystal, ultraviolet rays are used to activate the crystal and the destruction process begins. UV light stimulates catalytic crystals and emits electrons. These electrons initiate a catalytic process that breaks down the chemical bonds of PFAS molecules, destroying them completely, converting them into harmless, inorganic molecules such as carbon dioxide, water, and fluoride ions.
This process occurs under continuous ambient conditions. This means that it does not require high temperatures or pressure, and is more energy efficient. PFAS molecules are decomposed into non-toxic components, thus producing no hazardous waste or by-products, eliminating concerns regarding secondary waste disposal.
Continuous cyclical system with unparalleled effectiveness
What is noteworthy about Invicta Water’s approach is the cyclical and continuous behavior. The system uses a patent-pending recycle loop to ensure that all PFA compounds (short chains, precursors) are removed and destroyed. Recycle loops ensure maximum destructive efficiency and scalability, from small community systems to large municipal treatment plants.
The Invicta Water process is deployed in multiple locations in the southeastern United States and demonstrates its ability to effectively remove and destroy both long-chain and short-chain PFAs, as well as PFA precursors from drinking water, wastewater and industrial waste streams.
Invicta Water’s innovative systems offer greater advantages over existing technologies.
Complete removal of PFA
Unlike traditional filtration methods, Invicta’s process completely destroys PFAS molecules and leaves no dangerous residues or secondary waste streams. This breakthrough means that chemicals will go out of the environmental cycle forever rather than being temporarily stored or transferred. Cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency
The system operates in ambient conditions and significantly reduces energy consumption compared to high-pressure reverse osmosis and heat-intensive thermal destruction. As a result, capital and operating costs are significantly lower, making large-scale deployments economically feasible. The design and use of scalable “unit cells” further reduces manufacturing costs and allows for quick installation. Minimum waste and environmental impact
By mineralizing PFA into benign molecules, invicta eliminates the waste challenges associated with the brine of highly toxic spent filtration media or concentrated waste. This environmentally responsible approach is consistent with sustainable practices and reduces long-term debt. Scalability and flexibility
A modular design based on the concept of “unit cell” means that systems can be tailored to flow or size requirements, from single homes to large city water treatment facilities. This flexibility accelerates deployment and increases access to clean water solutions. Rapid deployment and standardization
Manufactured through mass production technology, Invicta’s systems can be assembled and installed in weeks rather than years. Standardization ensures consistent performance, quality and durability across a variety of settings.
Wideer impact and future outlook
Invicta Water’s groundbreaking technology represents a key milestone in its global efforts to combat PFA pollution. While existing technologies manage problems indirectly, Invicta’s approach offers a transformative alternative. Remove these chemicals from the environment and destroy them forever.
This innovation can significantly reduce cleanup costs, reduce health risks and restore environmental integrity. It is consistent with the ongoing regulatory commitment and social demands for safer and sustainable water management practices.
This article will also be featured in the 23rd edition of Quarterly Publication.
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