Known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS is a man made compound and does not naturally degrade in the environment.

Also referred to as fluorochemicals, as well as the “Forever Chemical,” due to their persistency in the environment and humans, PFAS contains one or more carbon atoms whose carbon-hydrogen bonds are replaced by carbon-fluorine bonds. The carbon-fluorine bonds are the shortest and strongest chemical bonds, hence its chemical reactive stability and persistency.

PFAS has excellent heat, chemical and thermal stability; stain, water and dirt repellence and wetting; and surfactant properties. Hence, they are used in a wide variety of products and processes.

• Oil repellent treatments for carpets and rugs
• Stain repellent treatments for textiles, leathers and fabrics
• Waxes, polishes, paints, adhesives
• Homewares: non-stick cookware, paper and food packaging
• Pesticides
• Industrial uses: firefighting foams, aviation hydraulic fluid, metal plating, electronic circuit board manufacture, and oil and gas production.

Globally PFAS can be found everywhere even in whales and polar bears in the Arctic.

Since the discovery of the harmful effect of PFAS countries are now phasing out the production however more PFAS analytes are being discovered as product IP is being released.

Human impact has been confirmed from various sources around the world and most recently released by the University of Michigan has linked PFAS with Ovarian and Testicular cancers.

PFAS has a half life between 40-90 years and bio accumulates within the environment.

Environmental impact with water and land has also greatly affected the agriculture and horticulture ecosystem. Farming of meat and vegetable crops further impacts human health as PFAS passes through the food chain.

The world is connected by its oceans, and the persistence of the PFAS precursors and analytes enables the contaminants to travel across the globe without interference.

PFAS has a half life between 40-90 years and bioaccumulates within the environment. If you wish to read more about PFAS below are articles written by world-leading experts on this issue.

• Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
• Perfluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA)
• Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS)
• 6:2 FTS (6:2 Fluorotelomersulfonate)

There is a focus on only some contaminates however there is a remaining 6600+ contaminants and currently laboratories can only test for 35.  The world is still learning.

OLEOLOGY can effectively and permanently remove all PFAS contaminants to below detectable levels in order to:

• Reduce CAPEX and increase operational efficiency
• Exceed Australian regulations and guidelines for PFAS discharge levels
• Dry safe waste with no potential burial and future liability – Thermally Oxidise
• Protect the local drinking supply in a rural or remote environment
• Remove other contaminants such as hydrocarbons, BTEX and organo-metals in the same system
• Small system able to be mobilised to other sites
• Scalable Flow Rates – customised design for any application

OLEOLOGY are a specialist engineering company producing custom advanced technical solutions in regards to waste water discharge or recycling.
They help industry meet internal or external regulation and the solutions meet compliance and process. Solutions can if required, remove organics, oils, hydrocarbons and PFAS to below detectable levels.

OLEOLOGY creates custom applications for the oil & gas industry, marine operations, mining environments, governments & councils, and much more. Our clients include the City of Perth, Cleanaway, Boral and the Australian Government.