Stories
PFAS is a challenge that requires precision
PFAS is a challenge that requires precision
With a passion for innovation and a desire to drive the industry forward, Chadi Saliba, Technical Manager of Water Treatment at Envytech, faces the challenges of managing complex chemicals. His mission is to find effective and sustainable solutions to purify water from PFAS, a so-called ‘forever chemical’.
As technical manager in water purification, Chadi Saliba’s mission is to find the right method for each challenge – with the goal of creating long-term sustainable solutions.
- We actively seek promising technologies that are still at the research stage. Then we help develop them so that they can be used in practice. It’s about making the technology economically viable and supporting the transition to large-scale use. In this way, we help drive the entire industry forward, says Chadi.
Chadi began working with PFAS back in 2012, when he was involved in a project where a large construction company was remediating contaminated land earmarked for a new residential area.
- That construction company took responsibility, but there were big differences in how companies managed PFAS. The authorities hadn’t really caught up, he says.
Since then, a lot has changed. From being considered an unusual problem, PFAS is now an issue that affects almost every remediation project.
- Previously, PFAS were not always measured, but now we measure them in almost all our projects. The levels can vary greatly depending on what we are looking for and sampling, says Chadi.
A complex remediation process
To remediate PFAS contamination is a much greater challenge than dealing with other chemicals as it requires great precision.
- While it is sufficient to purify other substances to, for example, 96 percent, for PFAS we need to get as close to 100 percent as possible. The last percent is not only expensive, but also requires enormous resources and great precision, says Chadi.
Another challenge is the time it takes to analyse samples. Waiting for test results makes the process slow and costly.
- We don’t know exactly what levels we’re working with until the analyses are complete. This creates some delay and is one of the greatest costs for both us and our customers, he explains.
Challenges in customer communication
An important part of the work is helping customers understand both the complexity and costs of PFAS remediation.
- The challenge is to show the precision and resources required to achieve the high purification rates needed. It is also about clarifying how the choice of technology affects both results and cost, says Chadi.
Tailor-made solutions
Which purification method is used depends entirely on the project’s conditions and the levels of PFAS in the area.
- We use several different technologies, such as SAFF, filtration and in-situ purification, depending on the concentrations and the environment we are working in. Each project requires a custom solution, says Chadi.
The future of PFAS remediation
To drive the development forward, Envytech and Sortera are committed to combining practical experience with advanced technology. Through research, innovation and close collaboration with customers, they strive to meet the growing demands of PFAS remediation.
