Incineration Conditions Prevent Significant PFAS Emissions

Fluoropolymers are essential in modern society, utilized across industrial and consumer applications. When these high-performance materials reach the end of their lifespan, they can contribute to waste in both industrial and household contexts.

Researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), in collaboration with international partners, studied how the incineration of fluoropolymers affects the release of low-molecular fluorinated compounds. Their findings, published in Chemosphere, indicate that nearly all fluoropolymers are destroyed during combustion at typical European temperatures.

In contrast to fluoropolymers, which are often classified as "polymeric PFAS", low-molecular PFAS are prevalent in everyday products such as water-repellent textiles and food packaging. While fluoropolymers represent a small subgroup of around 38 substances, the entire PFAS group includes approximately 10,000.

Some low-molecular weight PFAS pose health risks, linked to organ damage and cancer, and can accumulate in groundwater and soil, leading to environmental challenges. In contrast, fluoropolymers are generally deemed safe due to their high molecular weight.

A research team led by Dr. Hans-Joachim Gehrmann from KIT's Institute for Technical Chemistry (ITC) examined whether the incineration of fluoropolymers releases low-molecular weight PFAS into the environment. Collaborating with Gujarat Fluorochemicals, they conducted experiments at the BRENDA facility, measuring PFAS levels in scrubber water, ash, and flue gas.

The experiments were conducted at two temperatures: 860 degrees Celsius (standard for household waste incineration) and 1,095 degrees Celsius (typical for hazardous waste). Results showed a reduction rate of over 99.99% at 860 degrees, indicating effective mineralization under municipal waste incineration conditions.

Dr. Gehrmann highlighted the positive results for fluoropolymer removal during incineration according to European standards. However, he emphasized the need to investigate other pathways through which PFAS can enter the environment, underscoring the complexity of this issue.