ECT Experts Co-Author Chapters in Groundbreaking New PFAS Book

PORTLAND, Maine--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ECT, a global leader in cutting-edge solutions for water and air/vapor, announced today that five of its experts contributed chapters to a groundbreaking new book titled “Perfluoroalkyl Substances in the Environment,” which is the first book to provide a holistic view of the complex challenges presented by the emerging compounds per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). In the book, ECT experts provide insights on remediating PFAS, including an analysis of ECT’s innovative PFAS removal approach and a supporting case study. The book also covers PFAS regulations, toxicology, and analytical perspectives, as well as the impact of PFAS on human health and the environment.

PFAS are a group of compounds resistant to heat, water, and oil, and have been used in a wide range of applications and products for several decades. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) issued health advisories for PFAS in drinking water supplies in 2016.

ECT’s Director of R&D Mike Nickelsen, Senior Technical Specialist Marilyn Sinnett, and President/Co-founder Steve Woodard authored a chapter in "Perfluoroalkyl Substances in the Environment” focused on ECT’s patented, innovative regenerable ion exchange (IEX) resin technology, which is both more effective and more sustainable than the standard PFAS treatment. ECT’s Lead Process Engineer John Berry and Senior Technical Specialist Brandon Newman co-authored another chapter in the book focused on an IEX case study.

“We created this book to serve as an essential PFAS reference for practicing environmental engineers, regulators, toxicologists, researchers, and concerned members of the public,” said Editor David M. Kempisty. “The chapters written by ECT’s authors demonstrate the great promise of IEX technology, explaining how it works at the molecular level as well as why the equipment used makes IEX resin treatment more efficient and sustainable.” Kempisty is a bioenvironmental engineer and lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force who earned his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder in civil engineering.

In Chapter 14, “Ion Exchange for PFAS Removal,” Woodard, Nickelsen, and Sinnett analyze the technology, including the chemical properties of the IEX resins, how IEX cycles work, from loading to regeneration, rinse, and recovery and reuse.

“My colleagues Mike Nickelsen, Marilyn Sinnett, and Steve Woodard wanted to provide readers with a complete picture of regenerable IEX resin technology and its application for PFAS removal,” said Andy Bishop, ECT’s Chief Operating Officer. “Their chapter is a deep dive into the IEX process, including how water quality affects the system, key design parameters, and guidance for equipment selection. It demonstrates the superiority of ECT’s technology over granular activated carbon, in terms of cost and sustainability.”

In Chapter 21, “Case Study: Pilot Testing Synthetic Media and Granular Activated Carbon for Treatment of Poly- and Perfluorinated Alkyl Substances in Groundwater,” Berry and Newman, detail a 2015-2016 pilot test of the technology that took place at the former Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Following the success of the pilot test at Pease, ECT has installed a full-scale treatment system at the base that has now treated more than 12 million gallons of PFAS-contaminated groundwater from the former firefighting training area. ECT currently operates more than 200 sustainable water remediation systems worldwide.

About ECT
ECT is a recognized global leader in the development of engineered solutions for the removal of emerging contaminants, including PFAS, from water and vapor. Using its synthetic resin technologies, ECT’s systems, including its proprietary regenerable resin system, provide up to 20 times higher capacity than granular activated carbon at lower cost and a fraction of the waste volume.

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