In October 2024, TRS Group (TRS) completed its third and largest thermal desorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soil remediation project at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage, Alaska. The Department of Defense’s (DOD) Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) and Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) funded and administered the 2,000 cubic yard soil stockpile project, respectively. The field study included detailed monitoring, sampling and analysis to track the fate of PFAS and remedial results.
Applying our patented thermal conduction heating (TCH) technology in an ex-situ capacity, TRS thermally desorbed PFAS from the impacted soils. Our contractual goals included reaching an average target temperature of 400 degrees Celsius (oC) and reducing PFOA and PFOS concentrations below 0.019 ug/kg and 0.63 ug/kg, respectively.
Three TCH power units supplied power to 51 horizontal heaters, applying a total of 709,172 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy, 58% of the anticipated amount. TRS contained the soil and produced vapors with a vinyl membrane beneath two layers of mineral wool. The temperature ramp-up in the Alaskan winter was shorter than anticipated, with treated soils reaching a peak average of 638oC in 70 days, significantly less than the projected 120 days.
All 30 confirmation samples returned non-detect or near non-detect results for all Method 1633 analytes. These results are consistent with findings from studies performed by TRS, Jacobs Engineering, and others, and confirm the efficacy of TRS’s technology.
We appreciate the opportunity ESTCP and DIU provided TRS to study the appropriate applications, limitations, and the potential scaling of our technology, which allows for the treatment of all soil types, construction debris, concrete and roadway materials.
