Posters

Posters are sorted by presenters last name.

AOF, EOF, TOP? Demystifying EPA 1621 and Total PFAS Estimation

Bharat Chandramouli, SGS

Abstract:

In this presentation, we will discuss organic fluorine measurement, TOP and other approaches to understand unknown PFAS, including the new EPA Method 1621. We discuss sample preparation, analysis and the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches using internal and case study data.

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Horizons for PFAS Destruction Using Electrooxidation

Elisabeth Christ, Application Engineer, Aclarity

Abstract:

This poster presentation examines breakthroughs in electrochemical oxidation to defluorinate and PFOS and PFOA in landfill leachate, a major cause of PFAS contamination to municipal wastewater treatment plants.

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Managing Community Relations and Privacy Issues During PFAS Investigations 

Joe Greaves, Aerostar SES LLC

Abstract:

When a PFAS investigation moves beyond the site boundary, the Responsible Party will need an effective plan to manage community relations, including fulfilling obligations to notify surrounding landowners and submitting  compliant documents to regulators, while maintaining FOIA privacy exemptions and protecting Personally Identifiable Information (PII). 

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Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)  Use, Management, and Response Planning

Jill Greene, CDM Smith

Abstract:

Firefighting foams have recently become the subject of much scrutiny, as some Class B foams contain per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The PFAS serve as surfactants that spread the foam to trap oxygen and suppress the fire. Unfortunately, the same properties that make PFAS so effective in fighting fires result can result in contamination in locations of discharge. A variety of BMPs can be implemented to reduce potential environmental impacts from the use of firefighting foams. Many users of Class B firefighting foam are working to transition to fluorine-free products; however, firefighting foam replacement is complex and could require a complete system review and, potentially, redesign and modification of system components to meet the new objectives or material and performance requirements. Additionally, effective technologies for decontamination of foam dispensing equipment are in their infancy and evolving regulations and policies make the disposal/treatment of rinsewater or replaced AFFF challenging. This presentation will provide an overview of the use of firefighting foams and regulatory framework governing their use, best management practices to reduce to potential for impacts to the environment, response planning in the event of foam discharge, and the current state of methods for foam transition.

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Monitoring Produced Gases From PFAS Removal Technologies

Ken  Hellstern, Markes International Ltd

Abstract:

Many per and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) removal technologies seek to breakdown the compounds into small components which can be captured or neutralized. Incineration of PFAS is common in the USA and aims to degrade PFAS species into HF, CO2 and water. However if this process does not happen under the correct conditions products of incomplete destruction (PID) are created. This is also true of other novel techniques which are now being researched and used to try and managed PFAS. Often PIDs are smaller PFAS species and have their own detrimental effect upon the environment. This means that PFAS destruction must be monitored in a meaningful way. The smallest PID is CF4. An exceedingly volatile freon and potent greenhouse gas. This compound is challenging to monitor to its volatility and the global networks such as GAW and AGAGE which monitor it currently require extremely specialized equipment to do so. In this study we will show that commercially available thermal desorption equipment can be used to monitor CF4 and other priority PFAS from destruction sources. Thermal desorption coupled to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) is commonly applied to monitoring of hazardous organic compounds in ambient air. The technique is well suited to monitoring ultra-volatile species, and is the basis for the specialise equipment used in the GAW and AGAGE networks. Commercial instruments cannot sample the same volume but they can still be used for this application because the same background levels are not trying to be reached.  In this study we will share data showing how TD-GC-MS with canister sampling offers a robust approach to performing monitoring of PFAS destruction sites for the most challenging compounds  expected to be in OTM 50. We will also discuss the challenges related to this difficult matrix.  

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Use of Lysimeters to Estimate Site-Specific Soil Standards for PFAS

Mackenzie Hirt, AECOM

Abstract:

The sorptive and leaching behavior of PFAS is a highly complex process due to the unique physical-chemical properties of these compounds.  Due to these factors, traditional risk-based techniques to estimate leach-based soil standards are not adequate.  This presentation will describe an extensive field study in which lysimeters were utilized to measure the leaching of PFAS compounds from the unsaturated zone.  Results derived from the lysimeter analysis yielded higher leach-based concentrations when compared to traditional risk calculation methods.

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Expanding Analyte Lists: Machine Learning Models to Strategically Expand Historically Limited PFAS Analyte Lists

Teresa Amentt Jennings, AECOM

Abstract:

With the growing number of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) being monitored currently, historical PFAS investigations with short lists of PFAS will eventually require re-evaluation.  By repurposing our data-rich forensic pattern recognition approach, we have trained and tested various machine learning models to use results of only a few PFAS from any given sample to predict the most probable detections of additional PFAS. This approach leverages multivariate relationships and PFAS mixture patterns in established datasets of maximized analyte lists to then extrapolate a focused list of PFAS for further investigation.

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A Comparison of Draft EPA Method 1633 with the Most Commonly Used PFAS Analytical Methods

James Occhialini, Alpha Analytical

Abstract:

This poster is focused on what environmental professionals need to know about the new PFAS analytical Draft Method 1633, the first EPA method to address environmental sample media other than aqueous samples. The method will be reviewed, with significant features highlighted. A detailed comparison of the Draft Method 1663 with laboratory user defined SOP methods will also be included and noteworthy differences will be called out. 

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The Value of a Single Source Provider for Removal of Emerging Contaminants Including PFAS Geoffrey Pellechia, Senior Business Development Manager-Emerging Contaminants, Evoqua Water Technologies

Geoffrey Pellechia,  Evoqua Water Technologies

Abstract:

 Abstract:  Poster will provide a Case Study for PFAS Water Treatment at a Water Utility. Describe the problem, solution, and where they are at today  

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PFAS, Due Diligence and Real Estate Development The Latest Environmental Concern and How it May Affect the Process.

David Sawicki, Milhouse Engineering and Construction, Inc.

Abstract:

The term “forever chemicals” refers to a group of chemicals that are called “PFAS” or Per and Polyflouroalkyl Substances.  PFAS have been the subject of many recent studies which show that they are even more wide-spread that ever before.1  Recently, both federal and state agencies have proposed or enacted legislation that would set action levels in both soil and groundwater for these chemicals.2 This includes newly revised practice standards for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) 3 which has included the evaluation for the presence of these chemicals as a “Business Environmental Risk” (BER) when conducting Phase I ESAs.  As a result, environmental risk evaluation and property valuation during property redevelopment is now even more complicated due to the constantly changing regulatory status of PFAS.

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Eight Ways Facilities Can Be Affected by Developing PFAS Regulations and Awareness

Catherine Stott, PE, PG, Burns & McDonnell Engineering

Abstract:

As the risks associated with PFAS continue to garner public attention, and regulations roll out across the country, facility operations could be affected in numerous ways. Identifying and preparing for current and future PFAS requirements now, could lessen the impact of those changes to a facility’s day-to-day operations. In this presentation, we outline eight ways facilities could be affected by developing PFAS regulations and awareness – and what steps a facility can take to prepare for them. 

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Measurement of Volatile and Semi-Volatile PFAS Based on Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Youneng Tang, Florida State University

Abstract:

While there have been tremendous technological advances in detection and quantification of water-soluble PFAS by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), some PFAS that are too volatile for the liquid chromatography are understudied.  The presentation will include the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based methods that we have been developing in our lab for volatile and semi-volatile PFAS measurement.  It will also include the measurement results for environmental samples that include landfill gas emission, landfill leachate, ambient air, and various consumer products.  We found fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOH) in most of the samples at various concentrations.  

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