PFAS is one of the biggest challenges in modern water treatment. Stricter discharge requirements mean that both regulatory agencies and industry need solutions that can effectively remove PFAS from various types of water—without incurring disproportionately high costs.
OmniPFAS is an innovation project developing a flexible water treatment process for removing PFAS from complex water matrices. The project combines several commercially available treatment steps with an optimized pretreatment based on new coagulation and flocculation chemistry. The goal is to develop a comprehensive process in which the individual treatment steps support one another and can be adapted to different water qualities and treatment requirements.
An Optimized Process for PFAS Removal
The project is developing new precipitation chemistry designed to improve water pretreatment and enhance the effectiveness of subsequent treatment steps. At the same time, the solution aims to extend the service life of the adsorption materials used for the final PFAS removal.
A key part of the project is to gain a deeper understanding of how the individual process steps interact. This will make it possible to design the most effective PFAS removal solution based on the water’s PFAS composition, water quality, and specific treatment requirements.
Development, Testing, and Validation
The project is being carried out by Alumichem A/S in collaboration with Aarhus University: Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University: Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, and the Danish Technological Institute.
The project includes the development of new precipitation chemistry, the establishment of pilot facilities, and the testing and validation of both the precipitation chemistry and the adsorption materials. In addition, process designs, design criteria, and techno-economic analyses are being developed to serve as the basis for future water treatment plants.
The project aims to advance the precipitation chemistry from TRL 6 to TRL 8 and the adsorption materials from TRL 7 to TRL 9. The result will be an optimized and commercially viable water treatment process capable of meeting the stricter requirements for PFAS removal.
Testing and Research Based at Risø
Some of the project’s activities are being carried out at Risø. The Department of Environmental Science at Aarhus University is contributing by characterizing the PFAS composition, while Alumichem is developing and testing the new precipitation chemistry.
The project may also lay the groundwork for a future business venture for AquaGreen at Risø, focused on the destruction of PFAS-containing sludge.
Part of the Risø SME Innovation Platform
The project is one of 15 innovation projects within the Risø SME Innovation Platform, where companies and research institutions collaborate to develop and demonstrate new green technologies. The platform provides companies with access to research expertise, testing facilities, and strong innovation partnerships based at Risø.
Explore the other projects on the innovation platform
- PFASOL – PFAS in solar power plants – mapping and documentation of PFAS in solar power plants.
- OmniPFAS – flexible solutions for removing PFAS from various types of water.
- KhaosGuard – continuous monitoring of nitrous oxide emissions from wastewater treatment plants.
- RisøLith – 3D printing at the nanoscale at low temperatures.
- Circular solar-powered lighting – off-grid lighting with a focus on circularity and dark-sky principles.
- Heat-driven water-based cooling technology – utilization of excess heat for energy-efficient cooling.
- Reliable water supply – mobile solutions for producing safe drinking water.
- Searine M360 – electric propulsion system for small boats.
- Chemical plastic recycling – conversion of plastic waste into methanol.
- NanoShield – UV and nanotechnology that inhibits bacterial and algal growth on metal surfaces.
- Lab2Land – Greenlandic rock flour for carbon sequestration and soil improvement.
- 3D printing for flood protection – nature-based barriers printed directly into the landscape.
- Recycled Wind Turbines for 3D-Printed Homes – fiberglass from end-of-life wind turbines as a building material.
- Circular Plastic without Permanence – biodegradable plastic made from brewery waste.
- Circular Battery Design – battery systems designed for disassembly, repair, and reuse.
The project is part of the Risø SME Innovation Platform, which was developed as a comprehensive initiative under the Investment Support Scheme for Green Innovative Technologies and is managed by Clean. The initiative is funded by REACT-EU funds administered by the Danish Business Promotion Agency.
