Cameron Quick

Thermal Desorption of PFAS-Impacted Soil

Cameron Quick, Project Engineer I, TRS Group

TRS Group (TRS) completed its third and largest per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) soil remediation project in October 2024, using thermal conduction heating (TCH) with integral vapor extraction to treat a 2,000-cubic yard soil pile at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage, Alaska. The project, funded by the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) in partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), included detailed monitoring, sampling and analysis to track the fate of PFAS and remedial results.     This presentation will include:  • Laboratory results showing removal efficiencies at various temperatures  • Lessons learned from applying thermal desorption technologies at over 400⁰C  • Extraction of vapors and on-site treatment using cooling, condensation, and granular activated carbon  • Soil sampling and analytical results of PFAS concentrations before and after treatment  • Scaling the process for larger applications  • Strategies to reduce costs  • A sustainability perspective     Reducing the environmental impacts of PFAS will require the removal of source zones, protecting groundwater. TCH is a highly effective source zone treatment solution for PFAS-impacted soils.    

Cam Quick, Project Engineer, graduated with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton in 2019. Cam is a strong engineering professional who provides a wide range of technical support to thermal treatment systems across the United States and Europe. Cam has designed, implemented, and optimized systems for TRS using electrical resistance heating (ERH). Cam also helps lead the Design Development Group within TRS, ensuring lasting collaboration amongst engineers within the company.