to start remediating PFAS
I’m ready to take the next step
Not sure where to start? Let us help answer your questions about your site requirements and needs.
We’ll help you determine if a bench test of water from your site is needed. If so, we’ll conduct a comprehensive technical assessment in a few short weeks using just 40 gallons.
An Allonnia PFAS expert will work with you to coordinate a site trial with a full-scale, containerized SAFF unit.
Not sure where to start? Let us help answer your questions about your site requirements and needs.
We’ll help you determine if a bench test of water from your site is needed. If so, we’ll conduct a comprehensive technical assessment in a few short weeks using just 40 gallons.
An Allonnia PFAS expert will work with you to coordinate a site trial with a full-scale, containerized SAFF unit.
Not sure where to start? Let us help answer your questions about your site requirements and needs.
We’ll help you determine if a bench test of water from your site is needed. If so, we’ll conduct a comprehensive technical assessment in a few short weeks using just 40 gallons.
An Allonnia PFAS expert will work with you to coordinate a site trial with a full-scale, containerized SAFF unit.
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SAFF Product Information
SAFF Product sheet
Application Overview
SAFF Benefits
FAQ
Is SAFF commercially available?
Yes, SAFF units have been commercially available in North America since early 2022, and globally since 2019. Please contact us to be connected with a sales manager and learn more about how SAFF can support your site.
Yes, SAFF units have been commercially available in North America since early 2022, and globally since 2019. Please contact us to be connected with a sales manager and learn more about how SAFF can support your site.
In which applications has SAFF successfully demonstrated PFAS separation and concentration?
SAFF has been proven to be highly versatile, successfully treating hundreds of millions of gallons of PFAS-contaminated water across varied applications including landfill leachate, groundwater, drinking water, process water, and reverse osmosis (RO) reject water – often without pretreatment. View the map of SAFF’s global installations and case studies across applications.
You can also quantify the effectiveness of SAFF for your site conditions with our free calculator.
Has the SAFF technology been validated with the U.S. government?
We have been awarded more than seven government contracts deploying SAFF to treat PFAS contaminated groundwater across the United States. See the recent announcement discussing details of a two-year contract funded by the Department of Defense’s Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP).
How does SAFF compare to traditional PFAS removal technologies, like granular activated carbon and ion exchange resins?
The SAFF® process is a portable, containerized water treatment system which utilizes the natural physiochemical properties of PFAS compounds to adhere to fine air bubbles rising through a narrow water column. As the bubbles rise, they are exceptionally effective in collecting PFAS compounds which are loosely bound to the water molecules. Unlike other PFAS removal technologies such as granular activated carbon or ion exchange resins, no solid adsorbent media is used in the SAFF process, so no costly pretreatment, media change-outs and disposal, or breakthrough evaluations are required.
What are short chain PFAS? How do they differ from long chains?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals used in various industrial and consumer products for their water- and grease-resistant properties. They are characterized by a carbon-fluorine (C-F) bond, which is one of the strongest chemical bonds and makes PFAS highly resistant to degradation in the environment.
PFAS can be categorized into two main groups based on the length of their carbon chain: short-chain PFAS and long-chain PFAS. Short chain PFAS are not as hydrophobic and have a shorter carbon backbone compared to long chains, typically consisting of fewer than 8 carbon atoms, such as PFBA and PFPeA.
Due to the potential health and environmental concerns, the U.S. EPA is reviewing regulations and is expected to finalize a maximum contaminant level (MCL) and a national primary drinking water regulation (NPDWR) for certain PFAS in 2024. They also plan to finalize their designation as CERCLA hazardous substances by early 2024 according to a timetable published in December. These anticipated new regulations are expected to go into effect by the end of 2026 and include three long chain compounds (PFOS, PFOA, PFNA), and a group of three short chain compounds (PFHxS, GenX, PFBS).
Does SAFF remove both short and long chain PFAS?
EPOC Enviro’s Surface Active Foam Fractionation (SAFF®) is effective across a full spectrum of short-chain PFAS compounds and can separate and concentrate both short chain and long chain PFAS through a naturally elegant and sustainable process. The process relies on PFAS’ amphiphilic characteristics to remove the contaminants and can be further enhanced with a dose of an Allonnia booster, which facilitates increased aggregation and subsequent separation. Requiring only a low dosage, the booster pairs seamlessly with SAFF and is ready to use upon deployment – no additional hardware required.
For example, Allonnia has demonstrated 100% removal of PFBS from groundwater in the field, meeting proposed EPA MCLs at three different groundwater sites. If your site has short chain PFAS, reach out to us and we can find the right combination of technologies to meet your needs.
Will SAFF work for my site?
You can use our free calculator to quantify the effectiveness of SAFF for your specific water type and application. If you’re not ready to jump into a pilot but want to see SAFF’s capabilities for your site, we can also conduct a bench scale SAFF test in Allonnia’s lab. The study includes primary and secondary fractionation to estimate PFAS removal and concentration factor, providing a good correlation with full-scale field results.
The test includes analytical and waste management and requires sending 40 gallons of sample contaminated water in five-gallon HDPE carboys. A summary report with analytical results will be provided in 4-6 weeks after receipt of the water sample.
To learn more about how to get started, contact us.
You can use our free calculator to quantify the effectiveness of SAFF for your specific water type and application. If you’re not ready to jump into a pilot but want to see SAFF’s capabilities for your site, we can also conduct a bench scale SAFF test in Allonnia’s lab. The study includes primary and secondary fractionation to estimate PFAS removal and concentration factor, providing a good correlation with full-scale field results.
The test includes analytical and waste management and requires sending 40 gallons of sample contaminated water in five-gallon HDPE carboys. A summary report with analytical results will be provided in 4-6 weeks after receipt of the water sample.
To learn more about how to get started, contact us.
Once treated through SAFF, what is involved in the disposal process?
SAFF concentrate is well-suited for downstream disposal and destruction technologies. Current customers use on or offsite commercial PFAS destruction (i.e., mineralization) technologies, or solidification and solid waste disposal strategies. Other common solutions for disposing of liquid PFAS concentrate include deep well disposal or incineration.
Which destruction technologies has SAFF been paired with?
There are several destruction technologies available on the market today, which include electrochemical oxidation, supercritical water oxidation, hydrothermal alkaline treatment, photochemical, plasma, UV-sulfite, thermal oxidizer, photo-activated reductive defluorination, and sonochemical. So far, Allonnia has paired SAFF with the following: Aclarity’s EOx, AECOM’s DE-FLUORO™, Aquagga’s HALT™, Onvector’s Plasma Vortex, and Revive Environmental’s PFAS Annihilator™.
What happens to the concentrate and is there any safe way to store PFAS waste?
Each SAFF unit has built-in concentrate storage tanks and secondary containment with alarms in the event of a leak. When those tanks are full, the recommended process is to decant storage tanks by gravity using a hose to a closed drum with external secondary containment. This process minimizes operator exposure and risk of leaks during waste management.
What are SAFF’s flow range capabilities?
SAFF’s flow range capabilities can vary dependent on your treatment objectives and starting concentrations because it is considered a “batch” system. As batch time increases, fractionation time decreases. On average, it can treat approximately 100 GPM for groundwater and up to 70 GPM for higher foaming waters such as leachate or industrial process water.
How often does a SAFF unit need to be cleaned?
Routine maintenance cleaning of a SAFF unit will depend on influent water characteristics. We typically see routine maintenance needed 1-2 times per year for cleaner waters. Landfill leachate, or very hard waters, may need routine acid rinses for descaling, or additional cleaning to remove other solid deposits on a biweekly or monthly basis. SAFF units also contain remote telemetry where some issues can be corrected without physical intervention.
What is the average total energy consumption of a SAFF40?
The SAFF40 system, created by EPOC Enviro, is very energy efficient. It provides an estimated rate of 2.5 kwh per 1,000 gallons treated.
What are the power requirements for a SAFF unit?
Please see the SAFF product data sheet for the specifications required for set-up, including power.
How long does it typically take to design and install the system?
Our SAFF40 system is containerized, pre-designed, and pre-manufactured offsite for rapid deployment without site-specific design. Once the SAFF unit arrives on site, it can be set up for operation within days, and about 2-4 weeks for optimization.
What is the availability and estimated time of arrival of SAFF units?
We have SAFF units available now in the United States that can be deployed in less than 30 days. Please contact us if you’d like to learn more.
We have SAFF units available now in the United States that can be deployed in less than 30 days. Please contact us if you’d like to learn more.
How much does a SAFF unit cost?
We offer several financial options including straight purchase, monthly lease, or equipment as a service, depending on your need. Contact us to learn more.
We offer several financial options including straight purchase, monthly lease, or equipment as a service, depending on your need. Contact us to learn more.
Can I purchase the Allonnia booster if I don’t have a SAFF unit?
No, our boosters are exclusively available for use with a SAFF unit.
