Plug-in containers remove PFAS and heavy metals from water

Technology

22 September 2023

Plug-in containers remove PFAS and heavy metals from water

Press release

[This is a translated article from our partner Containertjänst. Their Swedish version can be found here]

Environmental technology company Chromafora has developed two patented methods to heavy metals and PFAS from contaminated water. With their technology, valuable metals can also be recovered from the water. In collaboration with Containertjänst, container solutions are being developed to easily and quickly establish water treatment systems.

Chromafora's treatment technology is currently used mainly at recycling plants where contaminated leachate requires treatment. SELPAXT is a system that uses chemicals and membrane filtration to capture and separate PFAS from the contaminated water.

The presence of PFAS in the environment is a major and growing problem around the world, which is why Chromafora sees great growth opportunities for its purification methods.

“The SELPAXT method captures both long and short PFAS substances with unique efficiency. When PFAS is reduced with traditional methods such as reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon, the residual waste is up to 25 percent, which must then be destroyed and it costs a lot of money. With our system, the residual waste is only about 0.1 percent.”

Mats Berggren

Supply Chain and Quality Manager, Chromafora

The SELMEXT method is another technology that uses selective properties to remove heavy metals from water. It can capture 99% of individual metals, which can then be recycled. The system has been evaluated for many different metals. It is most successful with zinc and arsenic, as well as lead and cadmium, which are common substances for water treatment.

Mobile treatment containers

Chromafora's treatment systems are developed and designed so that they can be assembled in containers. This makes them easy to transport to areas that are difficult to access, such as landfills.

“The installation cost is lower and provides greater flexibility than if the equipment were to be installed in a fixed building. When the container with our systems arrives, it can be directly connected to the plant's leachate system and start purifying the water from PFAS and heavy metals.”

Mats Berggren

Chromafora delivers the treatment containers and manages the operation of the system for the customers. The equipment installed in a container depends on what the customer wants to remove from their contaminated water. Containertjänst provides containers which are fitted with insulation, electricity, lighting, heating and fans. The containers are then shipped to Chromafora's suppliers, who assemble the machines required for the process.

Customized according to needs

Mats Berggren likes working with Containertjänst because they not only supply containers but are also involved in the development of different concept solutions for different container needs.

“Robert Johansson at Containertjänst and I are constantly talking about how the containers can be equipped to suit different needs. We define requirement specifications and Containertjänst develop ideas on how it can be solved. They are service-oriented, flexible and solution-oriented. It feels good to be able to contribute with solutions that are good for the environment.”

Mats Berggren

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