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The EPA is hosting a free webinar - Everything you wanted to know about PFAS but were afraid to ask: From the operators’ perspective. 

When: Wednesday April 12 at 1pm EST

About the Webinar:

In this webinar, Jamie Hope from the Florida Rural Water Association will examine emerging contaminants, PFAS and PFOA, and discuss what they are including uses, properties, environmental impacts, and potential treatment methods for wastewater and drinking water. The learning objectives of this webinar are to understand the complexity and impacts of Emerging Contaminants and UCMR 5 testing requirements. Participants will learn to identify the sources of Emerging Contaminants and how they were developed and subsequently released into the environment. Jamie will also identify potential treatment options for facilities including Activated Carbon, Ion Exchange Resin (IX), Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Nanofiltration (NF), Advanced Oxidation, and Biosolids Removal.

View Webinar Flyer

Register for the Webinar

According to the article, "Crisis building at Kennebec County wastewater treatment plants" by Jessica Lowell of the Kennebec Journal as featured on Centralmaine.com, wastewater treatment plants across Maine are struggling with the disposal of sludge after recent state regulations have changed how biosolids can be handled.

These bills were primarily put into place because of the amounts of PFAS "forever" chemicals found to be contaminating soil and water.  As a result, sludge can no longer be used in land applications and must be disposed of in another way to help prevent PFAS contamination.

These new regulations are taking a toll on wastewater treatment plants who are struggling to eliminate biosolids and are finding the need to have it hauled away to landfills at a high cost.

Read the full article.

Incineration can be used in the elimination of PFAS in biosolids. Both Multiple Hearth Furnaces and Fluidized Bed Incinerators can get up to temperatures high enough to remove PFAS from waste.

According to an article published in The Guardian, "Top US smoothie company accused of deception after toxic PFAS discovered" by Tom Perkins, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) were found in the Green Goodness smoothie made by Bolthouse Farms. The company claims that the smoothie is made from 100% fruit juice, but after testing, PFAS were found within the drink.

Perkins writes, "PFAS researchers who reviewed the case told the Guardian the chemicals may have been in the fruit. Fruit could be contaminated from pesticides, water, or the use of PFAS-tainted sewage sludge as fertilizer."

Read the entire article.

Sewage sludge used as fertilizer has become increasingly problematic as PFAS are being found in the soil and in turn contaminate the crops. The EPA continues to evaluate the situation and tighten regulations around PFAS removal. 

Incineration by way of Multiple Hearth Furnaces and Fluidized Bed Incinerators can be an effective method to remove PFAS. While adjustments may be needed to reach the necessary temperatures for PFAS elimination, this would be less costly than new equipment and more effective than other methods.

According to a recent news story from ABC News 33/40 in Birmingham AL, "Environmental organization says 'forever chemicals' detected near Moody landfill", high levels of PFAS have been found in the nearby Cahaba River. The Cahaba River is a source of drinking water for thousands who live in the Birmingham area. 

The Cahaba Riverkeeper has expressed frustration at the response from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management which they feel has not done an adequate job of testing of the chemicals. 

According to the article, water testing performed by the Cahaba Riverkeeper, "said the results it found at the landfill were alarming and many of the substances are linked to adverse health impacts."

Read the full article.

PFAS "forever" chemicals continue to be a problem as they are found in soil and water across the United States. PFAS can be removed by waste treatment facilities through incineration using appropriate temperatures. Multiple Hearth Furnaces and Fluidized Bed Incinerators can get to temperatures high enough for removal.

According to an EPA Report released in December 2022 - the Biosolids Biennial Report No.9 (Reporting Period 2020-2021) - PFAS continue to be found in biosolids / sewage sludge, a product of the wastewater treatment process. The report states that 13 new chemicals were found in biosolids, 3 of which are PFAS.

According to the report, "In early 2023, EPA is holding a Science Advisory Board (SAB) meeting to review a three-step process to assess the risk of pollutants in biosolids." The EPA has already begun to tighten restrictions around PFAS.

Incineration by way of a Multiple Hearth Furnace or Fluidized Bed Incinerator can be a source for removing PFAS from sewage sludge. An upgrade may need to be made to this equipment to reach the temperature necessary to remove PFAS.

According to a recent article from FingerLakes1.com, "NY regulators take ‘see-no-evil’ stance on evidence sewage sludge and effluent is contaminated with PFAS" by Peter Mantius, New York dairy farmers are having to dispose of contaminated milk due PFAS found in the soil and hay that cows use and eat due to the spreading of sludge on fields.

According to the article, "More than 600 plants discharge the effluent into the state’s public waterways, and their residual human waste sludge is often spread on crop fields or mixed with compost — never with any check for PFAS."

Other states, such as Maine, that are experiencing the same issues have proposed bills to ban field spreading of sludge to counter this problem. New York representatives are starting to take notice and are proposing legislation that would add requirements for waste water treatment plants to test for PFAS.

According to the article, "New York’s 612 POTWs (publicly-owned wastewater plants)... generated a total of 374,110 dry tons of leftover sewage sludge or biosolids. More than two-thirds of that sludge was sent to landfills (68 percent), while 16 percent was incinerated."

Read the entire article.

EPA regulations around PFAS removal are likely to tighten in the coming years. There is an opportunity to incinerate more of this waste and remove PFAS. If needed Multiple Hearth Furnaces can be adjusted to reach temperatures that will remove PFAS in sludge.

"The federal government is suing a small Idaho town near Grand Teton National Park for dumping toxic waste from its sewage treatment plant into a stream that feeds several scenic rivers in the region.

From Inside PFAS Policy - October 11, 2022

EPA water chief Radhika Fox says EPA is facing a “frontier issue” as it grapples with addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in biosolids but is pledging to work with key groups to preserve the three management methods -- land application, incineration and landfilling -- that wastewater treatment facilities currently use to dispose of biosolids while also protecting public health.

“I will certainly say the issue of biosolids and PFAS is an absolute frontier issue,” Fox said Oct. 11 during WEFTEC 2022, the annual conference of the Water Environment Federation (WEF). Her remarks were livestreamed from New Orleans, LA.

Read the full article

Last month, Industrial Furnace Company successfully concluded its second round of aluminum testing in our test Multiple Hearth Furnace at our Rochester, NY facility.

This testing had excellent high yield results with the delacquering of high aluminum scrap. An added bonus found was the successful recycling of aluminum found in papers and beverage containers.  

Industrial Furnace Company is happy to share this exciting news on the newest application of Multiple Hearth Furnaces for recycling aluminum.  IFCO already had a Patent for this aluminum recycling process and is eager to market the technology on a global scale. 

Contact us for more information.

Industrial Furnace Company has added an industrial lab that supports our in-house pilot Multiple Hearth Furnace. The new lab allows “real-time” optimization of product testing through our pilot furnace and is in accordance with ASTM Procedures. Contact us with any questions or for more information.

The Georgia State Board of Examiners for Certification of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and Laboratory Analysts has voted to approve IFCO's "Sewer Sludge Incinerator MACT refresher training" course for continuing education.  Anyone who completes this training course will received (4) CEU Credits.  

This past month, IFCO successfully completed our first remote Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) Training to Sewage Sludge Operators as required in 40 CFR part 60.5130.  Due to the pandemic, the training was provided online.  IFCO can now provide MACT training services in person or remote.  

Congratulations to John Kierecki for his WEF Life Membership award.  Industrial Furnace Company has always enjoyed working with John.  John continues to be a leader and innovator in the biosolids industry! 

Congrats to Industrial Furnace Company's Dave Youmas who retired this past Fall after an amazing 33 years at IFCO!  Dave "Yamaha" Youmas was one of our best mechanics and traveled with IFCO's A-Teams all around the world while working on our most important projects.  Dave was a true warrior, with a great attitude and worth ethic.  He represented the best of IFCO.  Thank you Dave for your years of service and best wishes on the next chapter of your life!

To ensure our projects are completed with the highest quality standards, Industrial Furnace Company has a full spectrum of certified welding procedures.  Industrial Furnace Company welders are certified to both AWS and ASME procedures in SMAW, FCAW, MIG, and TIG in both carbon and stainless steel metals.