destruction. Redefinition. Perses terminates PFA waste. General Atomics’ systems have been proven to eliminate toxic waste with an efficiency of over 99.99%, leaving only clean by-products.
Developed by a common atomic electromagnetic system (GA-EMS) and named after the Greek Titan of Destruction, Perse is a critical response to a variety of problematic organic waste, including PFA (and polyfluoroalkyl substances), one of the world’s most sustained contaminants. A total of over 12,000 of these synthetic chemicals are used in everyday products such as aerospace, defense, automobiles, construction, fire service, electronics, non-stick cooking utensils, carpets and water-resistant clothing.
Often referred to as “eternal chemicals,” PFA does not break naturally. Instead, they accumulate in the soil, water, and in the human body. There, it is associated with serious health risks such as hormone destruction, damage to the immune system, and certain cancers.
Traditional methods of treating PFA waste such as landfill, incineration, deep sea injection, filtration and long-term storage have systematic problems. Some of these approaches do not rule out PFA. They simply move them. Others create environmental hazards, face sitting constraints, and have long-term costs. For example, the filters and resin beads used to trap PFAs ultimately become hazardous waste in themselves, requiring further treatment and disposal.
With increasing awareness of PFA-related risks, as bans on outdated disposal methods grow, federal, state and local agencies are urgently sought permanent solutions to end the pollution cycle.
Enter PERSES: Titan Forged Technology for PFAS Destruction
Ga-Ems’ Perses is a commercially available, field-proven system that uses industrial supercritical hydroxylation (ISCWO) to destroy PFA and other dangerous organic waste at the molecular level. The process combines water, air, water and air in a high-pressure reactor operating at temperatures up to 700°C (1,292°F) and pressures up to 4,000 psi. Under these extreme conditions, water enters a supercritical state, which behaves like both liquid and gas. This allows for complete oxidation of PFA and co-dynamic agents in a single pass.
As a result, a breakdown efficiency of over 99.99% is generated, leaving only clean water, benign salts and carbon dioxide. After treatment, toxic residues and complex off-gas systems are not required. PERSES provides validated exclusions to non-detection levels – no containment and no residuals.
Verified by EPA
Supercritical hydroxylation has been around for decades, but has not always been considered viable for industrial scale use. This changed in the 1990s when GA-EMS developed an advanced SCWO system for US government applications. By 2012, the company began commercially selling Perses (formerly known as ISCWO) systems in the US and overseas.
Since then, Perses has destroyed more than 6 million gallons of dangerous and non-hazardous waste on a variety of customer sites, including around 200 different liquids, solids, and slurries. The ability to handle complex waste streams such as biosolids, sludges, and chemical mixtures offers clear advantages over emerging technologies still being developed.
In 2022, the US Environmental Protection Agency conducted independent testing of PERSES using aqueous membranes that form FOAM (AFFF), a firefighting material containing PFAS. The EPA confirmed a destruction rate above 99.99% and tested the efficacy of Perses in the treatment of actual PFAS contamination.
Built for the field
Perses is designed for flexibility and scalability. Each standard unit can destroy liquids contaminated with 3-5 gallons of PFA per minute, regardless of concentration. Multiple systems can operate in parallel to increase throughput. This technology is available in both fixed skid systems for permanent installations and mobile ISO container units (20 feet x 8 feet) for field deployment.
Unlike other SCWO systems that are still in the lab or pilot phase, PERSES is already operating in this field and is considered a Technology Preparation Level (TRL) 8 or 9. This means that they are fully qualified through testing and are proven in operational terms. Competing technologies often rely on pipe reactors that are prone to corrosion and salt accumulation. Others require dangerous materials such as liquid oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, which require increased operational risks and costs. Perses avoids these pitfalls with its patented marine reactor design that minimizes maintenance and maximizes uptime.
GA-EMS also offers full lifecycle support including procurement, installation, training, spare parts, maintenance and aftermarket support to ensure continuous and reliable operation.
Destroy PFA at the molecular level
The core of the effectiveness of Perses lies in the use of supercritical water. When the temperature exceeds 374°C (705°F) and the pressure rises above 3,200 psi, water will no longer work like a typical liquid or gas. In this unique stage, organic compounds containing PFA are completely miscible with oxygen, allowing for rapid and complete oxidation.
This reaction destroys the infamous, powerful carbonfluorin bond that makes PFA very persistent. As a result, hazardous waste is converted cleanly into neutral water, carbon dioxide and mineral salts. The process occurs in a single, dense stage, which means there is minimal mass transport limit, making the reaction quick and thorough.
PERSES does not require exotic chemicals for secondary off-gas treatments, gas or liquid discharge. A closed-loop system designed for safety, simplicity and sustainability.
Tackling complex waste flows
One important advantage of Perses is its ability to handle other harmful organic materials that are often present in PFAS waste. Many emerging technologies struggle with these mixed waste streams and require pretreatment or multiple treatment stages. In contrast, Perses simultaneously destroys PFA and co-dynamics, maintaining efficiency of over 99.99% over a wide range of waste feed inputs.
This feature is particularly important for real applications where PFA rarely exists on its own. Whether it’s contaminated groundwater, biosolids, or industrial sludge, Perce handles everything in a single continuous process.
Field demonstration
Before PFA became a widespread environmental concern, GA-EMS had already deployed its SCWO system under US government contracts, which has led to commercial sales to various end users since 2012.
Under multiple contracts, GA-EMS continues to demonstrate the Perce system across a wide range of PFA-contaminated materials, including concentrated AFFF, diluted groundwater, biosolids, soil, granular activated carbon (GAC) and resin beads from filtration systems.
The project includes the distribution, installation and operation of Perses units for multiple waste destruction testing. As PFA contamination continues to raise concerns across industries and communities, interest in testing and deploying effective disruption technologies like Perses is growing rapidly.
Ready today and designed to last longer
PERSES is the only field-proven commercially proven SCWO system that provides repair companies with a scalable and permanent solution for PFA destruction. Other systems are still being developed, but Perses already offers results.
Many competing technologies face important technical hurdles such as corrosion, salt clogging and limited temperature thresholds. Some people rely on pipe reactive actors that deteriorate over time or require frequent maintenance. Others rely on dangerous oxidants or special reagents that increase cost and complexity.
Perses avoids these issues by design. The patented vessel reactor is constructed to withstand extreme conditions without disassembly. It operates without liquid oxygen or hydrogen peroxide and maintains performance over a wide range of waste types and concentrations.
A scalable and sustainable future
As PFA contamination spreads and environmental regulations become more stringent, the need for permanent solutions becomes increasingly urgent. Perses rises to meet this demand by combining the field’s proven destruction, EPA validation performance, scalable throughput, and unnecessary clean results after treatment.
Unlike traditional methods of leaving residues and secondary waste, Perses offers true zero-leadow certainty. It’s not just a promising technology. It is a deployment and operational solution that has measurable impacts in communities, military bases and industrial sites across the country.
GA-EMS continues to invest in the evolution of Perse, expanding its capabilities and supporting its customers with full-service integration. Whether deployed as a fixed installation or mobile unit, PERSES is ready to meet the growing demand for PFA destruction.
Destruction, redefinition
PFAS contamination has been constructed for decades. Perses offers solutions backed by ready, permanent science. EPA tested, commercially deployed and designed to provide what others promise: fast, safe, complete PFA destruction.
As environmental regulations grow and the public’s demand for accountability grows, Perse stands out as a technology that not only manages pollution, but eliminates it. And it does so with the power, accuracy and permanence worthy of the Titan’s name.
reference
US Environmental Protection Agency. Industrial SCWO for the treatment of PFA/AFF in a water matrix. EPA/600/R-22/257, September 2022. EPA.GOV/Research McDonough, J.T., et al. “Verification of supercritical hydroxylation to destroy perfluoroalkyl acids.” Remediation Journal, February 22, 2022. Read the article Enviro Wiki. “Supercritical hydroxylation (SCWO).” Summary of Enviro.wiki Sahle-Demessie, E., et al. “Industrial supercritical hydroxylation for the aqueous phase treatment of concentrated PFA/afff.” was presented at the American Chemical Society Spring Conference in Indianapolis, Indianapolis, March 29, 2023. Environmental Chemistry Division, US EPA. Meeting Schedule National Medical Library. “Serum biomarkers of exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances associated with measurement of thyroid function in adults and adolescents of NHANES from 2011 to 2012.” Complete article Mount Sinai Health System. “PFAS exposure associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes” Ebiomedicine, The Lancet, July 2025. Complete research
This article will also be featured in the 23rd edition of Quarterly Publication.
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