Water treatment solutions specialist Arvia Technology has announced the launch of Florenox, a range of electrochemical oxidation reactors that can destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from concentrates.
Image Credit: Arvia Technology
PFAS are a group of over 14,000 synthetic chemicals that contain a chain of carbon and fluorine atoms, which is one of the strongest bonds in organic chemistry. Their reduction of friction, and resistance to stains, water, and heat, means they are commonly used in the manufacture of both industrial and consumer goods, including shampoo, food packaging, and non-stick cookware.
However, the carbon-fluorine bond also means that PFAS do not break down easily, leading them to be dubbed “forever chemicals”. Consequently, PFAS are now widely present in both the environment and even human bodies, with a 2024 study showing that absorption levels were as high as 60%.
Simon Gatcliffe, CEO of Arvia Technology, said: “Due to the fact that PFAS do not break down easily, if at all, current PFAS remediation techniques, such as resorting to landfill or incineration, essentially move the problem from one location to another without addressing the root cause. With the launch of Florenox, we intend to break this cycle by targeting the carbon-fluorine bond directly and destroying it.”
At the heart of Florenox is Nyex.3, a patent-pending advanced inert electrode material that promotes the formation of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals that are capable of breaking the carbon-fluorine bond. Unlike comparative technologies, Nyex.3 is fluoride resistant, offering a significant increase in lifespan for each unit.
The 3D nature of the Nyex.3 electrodes is also unique to Florenox, offering a larger surface area for the mass transfer of PFAS, making the technology particularly effective at treating parts per million (ppm) levels of forever chemicals. This includes concentrates from foam fractionation processes, leachates, and water containing aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF).
PFAS have recently been a primary target of environmental legislation in the UK, US, and Europe, though standards currently vary from nation to nation. For instance, the UK Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) currently specifies guidelines of 0.1 parts per billion, while the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced guidelines of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS in 2024.
Simon concluded: “Despite varying standards on PFAS from country to country, legislation is only heading in one direction, with the risk of litigation also on the rise. In the US alone, PFAS clean-up settlement fees already total $16.7 billion, while landmark cases are continuing to crop up across Europe too.
“With this in mind, we are strongly advising industry stakeholders to get ahead of the curve on PFAS management in order to mitigate the possibility of legal recourse in future. We encourage businesses to get in touch to discuss their treatment challenges, and arrange a treatability trial today.”
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