SCW Systems and Allied Waters sign an agreement for breaking down PFAS

The companies SCW Systems and Allied Waters have teamed up on an innovative technology for treating contaminated water containing difficult substances such as PFAS. Substances that would otherwise end up in the environment. Together, they are working on launching the first industrial-scale test runs from 2027 onwards. They signed the agreement for a long-term alliance on 15 July.

PFAS ‘forever chemicals’

PFAS is the acronym for a group of substances with a wide range of applications: from water-repellent textiles to smartphone screens and firefighting foam. The major drawback is that PFAS components are extremely persistent, a fact that has led to them being dubbed ‘forever chemicals’. Their widespread use and poor degradability, combined with the extremely high toxicity of components from the PFAS group, represent a threat to people and the environment.

The special thing about the technology: supercritical water

KWR Water Research has shown that SCC (SuperCritical Cleanup) is a strong contender for breaking down PFAS. What’s the secret? Water becomes ‘supercritical’ at high temperature and pressure: 374 ^oC in combination with 221 bar. In the process, the chemical and physical properties of water change drastically to such an extent that the conditions allow for the cracking of organic compounds. In Alkmaar, the SCW Systems company operates plants that produce green gas from organic waste flows. “Combining water flows containing PFAS with organic waste flows delivers a twin benefit: the breakdown of PFAS and the production of useful energy carriers, including hydrogen and methane,” says Wout de Groot, the CEO of SCW Systems.

What is the alliance for?

SCW Systems and Allied Waters are working together to scale up and optimise the breakdown of PFAS degradation with SCC with the aim of marketing the technology. “Take industrial wastewater on industrial estates, for example. What began as a joint development project with the KWR will now be put into practice,” says Jos Boere, the director of Allied Waters. The ongoing research projects are supported by government subsidies via TKI Water Technology and Energy Innovation NL / TKI Energy. “We expect to be able to upscale the first scale PFAS runs from 2027 onwards.”

About us

SCW Systems focuses on the conversion of industrial wastewater streams into renewable gas and transformation of hazardous materials into clean water and safe components using supercritical water gasification technology (SuperCritical CleanUp). In cooperation with its shareholders PGGM, InvestNL and Gasunie, SCW Systems has accelerated the development of the technology to industrial scale and acquired unrivalled operational experience.

Allied Waters (Allied Waters – Driving the circular economy) implements innovative concepts that are ‘driving the circular economy’ by creating an enabling environment for introducing solutions to water availability, resource recovery and energy, including green hydrogen. Allied Waters works in partnerships with its sister company, KWR Water Research, and commercial enterprises.

Read more about the project here.