Persistent organic pollutants (PoPs), exemplified by PFAS, continue to present enormous problems to society and industry in terms of remediation of a wide variety of water sources. Indeed, the PFAS problem is still high on the agenda for the EU in terms of restriction and/or regulation of use and need for remediation. The first phase of Mistra TerraClean placed great emphasis on bringing forward a solution for capture and destruction of PFAS in water phase, exemplified by the work performed with drinking water supply purification in lab-scale and at Hammarby Sjöstadsverk, using the carbon weavebased CDI approach. This work is currently subjected to a full LCA analysis, which will support eventual up-scaling and industrialisation after PoC.

In Mistra TerraClean phase II we have assembled a cluster of case studies which probe a variety of situations where contaminations, e.g. by PoPs, may occur, due to a variety of industrial activities. These cases, in general, utilize either the relatively high TRL material/device combination already tested in the programme, or explore the use of other materials with remediation potential from the extensive Mistra TerraClean material library. Potential to combine remediation materials and approaches will be evaluated. In all cases, analytical techniques for targeted and non-targeted analysis of PFAS compounds will be carried out in the facilities of RISE, KTH or IVL, as appropriate. With the targeted analysis, the compliance with the regulatory requirements on PFAS discharge will be assessed. Similarly, degradation of PFAS in various treatments will be monitored by non-target analysis, to assess the completeness of the PFAS mineralization. Moreover, the toxicity of some samples may be evaluated by SLU within the WP3.

In CSP2, methods and methods combinations identified so far as the most promising based on the results of Mistra TerraClean phase I will be further evaluated depending on the data that will be achieved on characterizing the contamination situations. The CDI technology would be interesting for concentration or destruction of contaminants in polluted water. It was also identified that carbonates studied at UU and Disruptive materials may potentially be applied. In addition, thermal reactivation of activated carbon (including biochar) is proven to be effective. Moreover, graphene-based sorbents may be suitable due to their thermal stability. In Mistra TerraClean phase II new industrial partners have joined with innovative technologies that may be applicable for this case package, e.g. membranes from the partner Alfa Laval and the magnetically modified carbons from the partner Biokol. Since the remediation technology development is moving forward rapidly, constantly providing new materials and techniques, exploration of other smart materials may be added along the progress of the programme, either from additional industrial partners or from the Mistra TerraClean material library.

In general, the technologies will be tested to an initial PoC within the Mistra TerraClean in lab-scale, with the possibility to longer time period testing and/or scale-up, depending on the interest from the problem owners and possibility of additional external financing.

The following cases have already been identified and formulated with end-users that will be addressed during the project. Depending on the development of the materials, devices and sensors, new cases may be formulated so that the new developments performed in WP1 and WP2 can be tested within the lifetime of the project.

CSP2 Leader: Tove Mallin, RISE
CSP2 Deputy Leader: Andriy Malovanyy, IVL

Involved partners: RISE; KTH; SU; IVL; Alfa Laval; SAAB; Stockholm Water Technology; SKF; Biokol