Worcester (Massachusetts) Polytechnic Institute researchers recently developed a wastewater treatment process to remove PFAS and potentially generate renewable fuel, reducing carbon emissions.
Collaborating with partners, WPI aims to bring this innovation to communities. Professor Michael Timko highlights the urgency, as PFAS accumulate and pose health risks. WPI's team aims to make treatment carbon-neutral or energy-producing.
Their RI-HTL process — using hydrothermal liquefaction with hydrogen peroxide — breaks down PFAS in sewage sludge. It heats sludge, generating processed water, solid waste, gas and biocrude oil. Tests showed significant PFAS removal, with potential for further oil refinement into transportation fuel.
RI-HTL also increases biocrude yield and bypasses energy-intensive drying. WPI and River Otter Renewables are patenting and licensing the technology, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is funding testing.
