PFAS-free Water and Circular Carbon – Powered by Plasma Technology

Important results from the project

The project goals were met: plasma technology demonstrated simultaneous PFAS destruction and GAC reactivation in a single process. IVL analyses confirmed ~95–97% PFAS reduction and 95.6% restored adsorption capacity (iodine number 799 mg/g). The project also laid the groundwork for a potential follow-on project, where the technology will be verified in a real customer environment with three Swedish water utilities.

Expected long term effects

The technology enables local, energy-efficient GAC reactivation without long-distance transport to overseas facilities, cutting energy use by ~83% versus thermal reactivation. In the long term, plasma reactivation can give water utilities local self-sufficiency in GAC, reduce PFAS risks during handling and transport, and support cost-effective compliance with tightened EU drinking water standards.

Approach and implementation

The project was carried out by Besca AB in collaboration with IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute and Uppsala Vatten. Besca performed plasma treatment of spent GAC from Uppsala Vatten in its laboratory furnace and systematically optimised process parameters. IVL conducted analytical verification through iodine number testing and PFAS analysis. The project largely followed its plan and concluded with strong technical results within the project period.