PyroGenesis Canada Inc said it has been selected to provide a $9.2 million land-based system to destroy perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water.
The company said the client is a large operator of public water systems, whose name will remain confidential for competitive reasons.
PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals found in countless household items such as electronics, cleaning supplies, and non-stick cookware, which can contribute to harmful human health conditions including cancer and hormone disorders.
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PyroGenesis said it was recently informed that, after a competitive bidding process, it had been selected to provide its plasma-based thermal process equipment in a two-phase project geared to providing a land-based system to destroy PFAS.
The first phase is to provide pilot testing with the second phase geared to full fabrication, furbishing, and commissioning of a fully commercial land-based system.
The company said the time to completion is, from the signing of the contract, about six months for the pilot system, with the timeframe for the full system to be determined based on Phase 1.
Work will not begin until a definitive agreement is signed by both parties, as PyroGenesis is currently pursuing two additional opportunities within the same US state.
PyroGenesis said that because of their widespread use and strong chemical bonds and properties, which account for their persistence in the environment, PFAS are proving to be persistent pollutants that affect humans and wildlife, as they are likely to be exposed to these chemicals by consuming contaminated water or food, using products made with PFAS, or breathing air containing PFAS.
In fact, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has indicated that PFAS are found in the blood of 97% of Americans.
“PFAS are obviously a waste stream that has to be addressed, and in short order. As such, we are extremely proud to have been selected, in a highly competitive bidding process, to provide our proprietary plasma-based environmental solution to this significant problem facing the world,” said P. Peter Pascali, CEO of PyroGenesis, in a statement.
“The significance of this announcement goes far beyond the announcement itself as it represents our first commercial land-based system sold outside of the military and has opened up a significant opportunity for our land-based offerings within this segment. Outside the needs of our current Client there are many companies facing the same challenge and we fully expect to be providing similar solutions to these entities as well,” he added.
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