In a landscape where liability is likely to expand, Supercritical Water Oxidation provides certainty. It neutralizes PFAS compounds at the molecular level, removing the risk of reclassification, residual exposure, or downstream impacts.
By Rick Gillespie
Landfills are facing increasing regulatory scrutiny as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) emerge as a top environmental concern. These highly durable compounds, found in a wide array of consumer and industrial products, accumulate in landfill leachate and threaten surface and groundwater. The chemical properties that make PFAS useful, particularly their strong carbon-fluorine bonds, also make them resistant to traditional treatment and persistent in the environment.
Regulators have taken notice. PFOA and PFOS are now designated hazardous substances under CERCLA, carrying reporting obligations and the potential for cleanup liability. The EPA is also pursuing RCRA regulations that would expand hazardous waste classifications to more PFAS compounds. In parallel, Clean Water Act effluent limitations are being drafted for landfills, with discharge limits expected to mirror drinking water MCLs as low as 4 parts per trillion.
Meanwhile, states have taken their own steps, from mandatory PFAS testing in leachate to prohibiting discharges to wastewater treatment plants. These overlapping and evolving requirements place growing pressure on landfill operators to act decisively.
Photos courtesy of Revive Environmental.
Treatment Strategies: Separation vs. Destruction
In the face of growing regulatory pressure, landfill operators are exploring more targeted approaches to PFAS management. Technologies such as foam fractionation (FF) and reverse osmosis (RO) have proven effective at concentrating PFAS from leachate, significantly reducing the overall treatment volume. These methods capitalize on PFAS鈥� physical and chemical properties to isolate the compounds from complex waste streams. However, they still require a final destruction step to fully resolve the PFAS burden.
None of these methods destroy PFAS. They produce concentrated waste streams that must still be managed. As disposal options tighten, landfill operators may find themselves saddled with long-term liabilities unless destruction technologies are employed.
Enter Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO)
SCWO offers a compelling alternative: complete molecular destruction of PFAS. In the SCWO process, water is heated above its critical point (374掳C and 221 bar), becoming a supercritical fluid with hybrid properties of gases and liquids. At higher operational conditions (450鈥�650掳C and 250鈥�300 bar), this medium enables rapid oxidation of organic compounds, including the notoriously stable PFAS.
The result? Carbon-fluorine bonds are broken via radical reactions, converting PFAS into carbon dioxide, water, and inorganic salts. Fluoride ions are safely removed as calcium fluoride through controlled pH precipitation. Emissions are minimal due to the closed nature of the system, making SCWO a highly reliable and environmentally sound option.
Why It Matters for Landfill Operators
For landfill operators, SCWO provides three key benefits. First, it ensures compliance with both current discharge limits and anticipated regulatory requirements. As rules tighten at both the state and federal levels, a destruction-based approach offers confidence that operations will remain aligned with the law.
Second, SCWO eliminates the long-term liability associated with storing, transporting, or re-disposing of PFAS waste. Because the compounds are destroyed at the molecular level, there is no risk of future reclassification or exposure from legacy materials.
Finally, the operational model is streamlined. The end-to-end process is handled, including transportation and destruction, so that landfill teams do not have to invest in new infrastructure or manage complex chemical systems.
Steps to Implementation
To implement a destruction-based PFAS strategy, landfill operators should first assess their leachate to understand PFAS concentrations and variability. Pilot testing front-end separation technologies such as FF or RO helps determine feasibility and cost. From there, operators can work with companies to plan logistics, establish transport procedures, and evaluate system performance over time. This phased approach ensures a smooth transition to full-scale treatment and regulatory compliance.
A Strategy Built for the Future
Destruction-based treatment helps landfill operators avoid the uncertain and potentially expensive future of storing or re-disposing of PFAS. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies through CERCLA, RCRA, the Clean Water Act, and evolving state mandates, demonstrating effective and permanent PFAS elimination will become central to both compliance and public accountability.
In a landscape where liability is likely to expand, SCWO provides certainty. It neutralizes PFAS compounds at the molecular level, removing the risk of reclassification, residual exposure, or downstream impacts.
Conclusion
PFAS are persistent, but your liability does not have to be. SCWO provides a proven path to full destruction, backed by data, verified by third parties, and aligned with emerging environmental standards. With the right strategy, landfills can move from managing PFAS to eliminating it for good. | WA
Rick Gillespie serves as Chief Commercial Officer at Revive Environmental, which operates permitted SCWO facilities providing PFAS destruction services for landfill leachate and other waste streams. Chief Commercial Officer. Rick leads the development and execution of the commercial strategy for the business. Rick is responsible for leading the sales, marketing, and business development with a goal to realize a future with clean water, free from PFAS and other hazardous contaminants. For more information, visit .