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PFA​S

What are PFAS ? 

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are a large family of man-made chemicals used since the 1940s in thousands of industrial and consumer products.

Because of their exceptional resistance to heat, water, oil and chemicals, PFAS have been widely used in:

  • Firefighting foams (AFFF)
  • Industrial manufacturing
  • Non-stick coatings
  • Waterproof textiles
  • Food packaging
  • Metal plating operations

PFAS are often referred to as "forever chemicals" because they do not naturally degrade in the environment. Once released, they can persist for decades in soil, groundwater and surface water.

Why are PFAS a concern?


PFAS can migrate from contaminated soils into groundwater and drinking water supplies. They may also accumulate in plants, animals and the food chain.

Long-term exposure has been associated with:

  • Increased cancer risk
  • Thyroid disorders
  • Immune system effects
  • Developmental impacts
  • Liver toxicity

As regulations become stricter worldwide, PFAS-contaminated sites are becoming a major environmental challenge.

Remediation Strategies - State of the Art

PFAS contamination presents unique remediation challenges due to the exceptional chemical stability of the carbon-fluorine bond. As a result, many conventional soil remediation technologies used for hydrocarbons or chlorinated compounds are only partially effective for PFAS.

Today, four main approaches are used to manage PFAS-contaminated soils.

TechnologyPFAS DestructionSpeedLong-Term LiabilityKey AdvantagesMain Limitations
Landfilling / Containment🔴 No🟢 Fast🔴 High✅ Simple implementation
✅ Immediate site clearance		❌ PFAS remain present
❌ Future liability remains
❌ Increasing disposal costs
Stabilization / Immobilization🔴 No🟢 Fast🟠 Medium✅ Reduces PFAS mobility
✅ Can be implemented on site		❌ PFAS remain in soil
❌ Long-term performance uncertainty
Soil Washing🔴 No🟢 Fast🟠 Medium✅ Reduces contaminated volume
✅ Can lower treatment costs		❌ Transfers PFAS to wastewater and fines
❌ Requires additional treatment
Thermal Desorption🟢 Yes🟢 Fast🟢 Low✅ Removes PFAS from soil
✅ >99.9% removal efficiency
✅ Proven technology for source zones		❌ Requires specialized equipment

Soil Washing + Thermal Desorption🟢 Yes🟢 Fast🟢 Low✅ Best cost-performance ratio
✅ Reduced treatment volume
✅ Highest remediation efficiency		❌ More complex project design


Thermal Desorption with  Krysalis®

Destroying PFAS, Restoring Soil, Zero Waste

Thermal desorption uses heat to remove PFAS from contaminated soils.

Heating soils to 350–400°C can achieve PFAS removal efficiencies of 99.9% 

for compounds such as PFOS and PFOA.

Direct removal of PFAS from the soil matrix with Krysalis® by Haemers Technologies

✅ Proven high treatment efficiency (>99.9%)

✅ Rapid treatment times

✅ Reduced long-term liability

✅ Applicable to highly contaminated source zones

✅ Vapor Treatment = Heating Sytem through vapor reburning

✅ No waste generated



Key Benefits

🎯 Permanent PFAS Removal

Eliminates PFAS from contaminated soils rather than transferring or containing the pollution.

⚡ Fast Remediation

Delivers results in days or weeks, accelerating site cleanup and redevelopment.

📈 Proven High Efficiency

Achieves PFAS removal rates exceeding 99.9% for major compounds such as PFOS and PFOA.

💧 Protects Groundwater

Removes source-zone contamination and reduces the risk of future PFAS migration.

🛡️ Reduces Long-Term Liability

Provides a sustainable remediation solution aligned with increasingly stringent environmental regulations


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