Groundwater Remediation
Innovative in water treatment
Our breakthrough technology enables the degradation of the most persistent contaminants in a one-step treatment.
Sustainable
Removal of priority substances with low chemical consumption and a small reactor footprint.
Robust
Robust technology with a short start-up time, capable of removing a wide range of contaminants.
Partners in business
The best results arise from a fruitful cooperation. Moving forward together.
The challenge
Groundwater is one of the world’s most important resources. We use it for drinking, bathing, industrial purposes and agricultural practices. It is a valuable resource that must be protected from contamination and pollution.
CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER. Unfortunately, groundwater is often polluted as a result of human activities or natural processes. There are numerous examples of accidental spills of hazardous chemicals that have contaminated the environment. For years, firefighters have used foam fire suppressants that contained harmful chemicals that seeped into the groundwater. These chemicals are known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. PFAS is very mobile and highly persistent in the environment. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to an increased risk of cancer and several other diseases. Other issues that threaten the groundwater quality are the over application of fertilizer or pesticides and the contamination of water with pharmaceutical residues.
PERSISTENT CONTAMINANTS AND BY-PRODUCTS. Groundwater contaminants, like PFAS, are very persistent. Current techniques are not capable of completely breaking down the hazardous substances into their basic elements. Conventional techniques like activated carbon treatment, ion exchange resins and high-pressure membrane filtration only achieve the separation of contaminants into more concentrated waste streams. These generated waste streams are even more toxic and require further treatment. Safe, effective and affordable treatment technologies for the removal of the most persistent priority substances are still lacking.
The solution
Water IQ International developed a novel technology that enables cost-efficient removal of persistent contaminants from polluted groundwater without by-product formation.
COMPLETE REMOVAL OF PERSISTENT CONTAMINANTS. The Catalytic Diamond® is a powerful technology developed for the remediation of groundwater. Catalytic Diamond® combines molecular adsorption and catalyst induced radical oxidation to efficiently degrade and remove persistent organic pollutant residues, such as volatile organic contaminants, pesticides and pharmaceutical residues. Removal of the priority hazardous substances PFAS and MBTE by Catalytic Diamond® has also been demonstrated.
SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY. Catalytic Diamond® can efficiently remove a wide range of recalcitrant contaminants without generation of by-products. Thanks to the high oxidation strength provided by the catalyst, complete remediation can be achieved with a one-step treatment and small reactor footprint. In specific cases, like PFAS, a serial treatment is required. Catalytic Diamond® has low chemical and energy consumption and operational costs are minimized. It therefore provides an affordable and sustainable solution to persistent environmental pollutions.
Society is increasingly shaken up by reports of hazardous substances that widely occur within the physical environment and that prove to be dangerous, or for which the risks are still unclear. For example, recently, the presence of PFAS in soils has been a general concern. Other examples are growing concerns about microplastics and the possible presence of pharmaceuticals and plant protection products in drinking water. These concerns cause anxiety among the population and the costs to society are substantial.
– The Council for Environment and Infrastructure, February 2020 –
Our technology
