PFClean

Innovative modular system for sustainable reduction of PFAS contaminants from soil and groundwater

01/03/2023 to 28/02/2026

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of substances that occur ubiquitously in the environment and are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic. The aim of the PFClean research project is to develop methods for the remediation and removal of PFAS from soil and groundwater.
There are major gaps in our knowledge of the removability of polyfluorinated precursors (precursors), as well as environmentally relevant processes and their mobile, perfluorinated and persistent transformation products. We consider these in the further development of the remediation methods "funnel & gate", "immobilization", "forced mobilization" and "thermodesorption" in this project. Thus, a broad field of application with typical characteristics is covered:
1. hydrogeological site characteristics in the unsaturated and saturated zone;
2. point sources due to the use of firefighting foams and non-point sources of PFAS-contaminated agricultural land;
3. typical complex contaminant mixtures with PFAS and their transformation products (TP);
4. remediation technologies already in use and adapted to PFAS (funnel & gate) and those for which research is still needed for PFAS application (turnover rates of precursors, forced mobilization).
In the PFClean project, emphasis is placed on in-situ processes and a holistic approach, whereby the intermediate transformation products, i.e. the long-term consequences of PFAS damage, are identified and quantified, and ways of removing PFAS from the subsurface, their technical implementation and economic boundary conditions are demonstrated.

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