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Treatment Technologies Workgroup

Filters delivered to Robinson Elementary School near Grand Haven on a trailer

Treatment Technologies Workgroup

Mission

 

To share information about PFAS treatment technology with internal and external groups, and review proposed treatment of PFAS at select sites overseen by State of Michigan agencies.

 

Contact

Stephen Busch

Department Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)

Nicole Sanabria

Department Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)

Recent Accomplishments

  • On January 23, 2023, the treatment technology workgroup met and determined the following activities as priorities for CY2023:
    • Continue compiling a list of PFAS treatment technologies in use or being tested in Michigan.
    • Provide workgroup members, MPART leadership, and Department management with information on the latest research and developments regarding PFAS treatment technologies.
    • Review proposed PFAS treatment at sites in Michigan and provide guidance and considerations regarding design, installation, operation, maintenance, and environmental compliance.
    • Plan a 4th fourth annual Virtual Great Lakes PFAS Summit to be held in December 2023.
  • On February 1, 2023, a subgroup of treatment technology workgroup members from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Water Resources Division (WRD) developed a recommendation for a best professional judgement (BPJ), treatment technology based effluent limit (TTBEL) for Perfluorobutane Sulfonate (PFBS) for consideration in NPDES Permitting.
  • On July 2, 2023, the Call for Abstracts for the 2023 Virtual Great Lakes PFAS Summit closed. Abstracts are being evaluated to draft an agenda.

Next Steps

  • Ongoing as needed, the workgroup provides guidance and considerations to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) regarding proposed treatment to be implemented for PFAS contamination at select sites across the state.
  • Continue planning efforts for the 2023 Virtual Great Lakes PFAS Summit, which will occur on December 5-7, 2023.
  • Ongoing as needed, develop BPJ TTBEL recommendations for specific PFAS using a subgroup of workgroup members from EGLE – WRD.

Reports

  • No reports are available at this time.

Research/Studies

The MPART Treatment Technology Workgroup is collaborating with EGLE to provide guidance and considerations at sites looking to implement treatment of PFAS contamination. Several pilot studies involving new technologies for PFAS remediation are in development or have been implemented at sites across the state. This includes: 

  • Plainfield Township Water Treatment Plant - Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) pilot study
    Plainfield Township received a grant from the State of Michigan to pilot test various GAC media products and configurations in their existing filter beds to evaluate PFAS removal, impact on primary treatment objectives, and operating limitations. GAC was installed in some filters beginning June of 2018. Quarterly reports were submitted to evaluate GAC efficacy for PFAS removal, impacts on turbidity removal, operational impacts such as backwashing, chlorine residual, head loss, and total organic carbon (TOC). The pilot study has concluded with a final report dated December 31, 2019.

There are many remaining questions to answer in treating PFAS contamination at sites. Future PFAS treatment related research is encouraged to focus on addressing the following:

  • Development of cost-effective, full-scale destructive treatments or treatment trains for PFAS contaminated liquids, solids, and air. 
  • Understanding of PFAS precursor materials, their transformation reactions, and PFAS treatment degradation reactions and the conditions under which they occur.
  • Evaluation of temperature, time, and turbulence required to effectively destroy PFAS using thermal treatments while preventing the formation of products of incomplete combustion (PIC) and products of incomplete destruction (PID).
  • Cost-effective methods for the analysis and measurement of PFAS, precursors, PIC, and PID in air emissions.
  • Regenerative treatments for adsorptive media and filters used to separate and capture PFAS as alternatives to disposal.
  • Evaluation of disposal options for PFAS contaminated materials that have no remaining useful service life.
  • Development of microbial treatments for PFAS and their precursors.

Timeline of Accomplishments

  • On December 5 – 7, 2022, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy hosted a third virtual Great Lakes PFAS Summit.
  • On March 11, 2022, the Treatment Technology Workgroup met to discuss changes to the workgroup, which involved discontinuing the Treatment Technology Roundtable and the Vendor Documentation Form. The workgroup has also decided to host a third Great Lakes PFAS Summit, estimated to take place in December 2022.
  • On December 6 – 10, 2021, The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy hosted a second virtual Great Lakes PFAS Summit.
  • On June 27, 2021, the call for abstracts closed for the 2021 Great Lakes PFAS Summit.
  • May 26, 2021: EGLE participated in a quarterly call with the US EPA ORD to continue collaborative efforts to treat PFAS.
  • February 25, 2021, EGLE participated in a quarterly call with the US EPA ORD to continue collaborative efforts to treat PFAS.
  • January 2021, EGLE partnered with the U.S. EPA, U.S. Department of Defense’s Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP); the Environmental Council of States (ECOS) and the Environmental Research Institute of the States (ERIS); and Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment to co-sponsor the Innovative Ways to Destroy PFAS Challenge. The Treatment Technology Workgroup assisted in reviewing technologies submitted for the challenge.
  • November 18, 2020: EGLE participated in a call with the US EPA ORD to continue collaborative efforts to treat PFAS and share new information.
  • Lead planning efforts for the 2020 Great Lakes PFAS Summit that occurred October 26-30. The conference covered a wide range of PFAS topics directed toward scientists, industry, and government agencies. Over 1,500 people participated in the conference, representing 36 states and 4 countries.
  • October 27, 2020: Workgroup hosted Discussion Session at Great Lakes PFAS Summit
  • October 1, 2020: SoM Treatment Technology Workgroup Meeting
  • August 26, 2020: EGLE participated in a call with the US EPA ORD to continue collaborative efforts to find solutions to treating PFAS and share new information.
  • July 16, 2020: The conference planning committee began transition to host PFAS Summit virtually, rather than in-person due to COVID-19
  • May 28, 2020: EGLE participated in a call with EPA ORD to discuss collaborative efforts to find solutions to treating PFAS.
  • April 17, 2020: The conference planning committee submitted their reviews of the abstracts submitted for the Great Lakes PFAS Summit
  • March 23, 2020: EGLE participated in a call with the US EPA to discuss collaborative efforts to address unanswered questions and challenges related to treating PFAS
  • March 18, 2020: The conference planning committee met to discuss a plan for abstract review.
  • February 26, 2020: SoM Treatment Technology Workgroup Meeting
  • February 23, 2020: Call for abstracts closed for the 2020 Great Lakes PFAS Summit – 160 abstracts were received.
  • October 18, 2019: Treatment Technology Roundtable meeting
  • August 14, 2019: Treatment Technology Roundtable meeting
  • June 28, 2019: Treatment Technology Roundtable webinar meeting
  • May 10, 2019: First Treatment Technology Roundtable meeting
  • Developed a Treatment Technology Roundtable by inviting scientists/engineers working in the field to coordinate treatment technology needs, share ideas, research, and treatment successes. Several meetings were held between May and October of 2019.
  • Developed a Vendor Documentation Form to track all treatment technology information submitted by vendors and researchers to the SoM. This was done to organize and understand the multitude of vendor contacts and products being proposed to the SoM.
  • Participated in a conference call with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), to continue collaboration on research toward PFAS destruction and treatment.

Please note the Treatment Technology Workgroup does not provide commercial product endorsement or recommendation for use. Any findings or conclusions should not be construed to represent any determination or policy by the State of Michigan or its Departmental Agencies or MPART.