DELOACH BLOG

The EPA and other world health organizations have recognized the dangers and health impacts of being exposed to PFASs.

Federal and State regulators are adopting new guidelines and laws for treating and removing PFASs. Often PFASs within potable drinking water systems or groundwater is contaminated with one of the various types of PFASs. There are over 4700 different variations of PFASs that have variations and at least three polyfluorinated carbon atoms.

Well over 10,000 types of PFASs are introduced into products. That can and has impacted the drinking water quality in the USA and other countries. 

So what are PFASs?

PFASs are fluorinated substances that include at least one fully fluorinated methyl or methylene carbon atom. They do not contain (H/Cl/Br/I atoms). However, any chemical with at least a perfluorinated (CF3) or a perfluorinated (CF2) is a PFAS. There are a few exceptions.

Different subgroups include surfactants, per fluorosulfonic acids, perfluorooctane sulfonic, perfluoro carboxylic, and perfluorooctanoic acids. Often referred to as PFOSs and PFOAs.

PFOS, PFOA, and other PFASs are persistent organic pollutants. They are often referred to as the "forever chemicals" because they do not easily break down in the environment. These organic contaminants are found in humans, animals, and our water supplies across the USA.

The process of Decarbonation requires

the use of a vertically designed Degasification tower. A Decarbonation tower is specifically designed to remove Carbon Dioxide (CO2) from a water treatment process. When the water is being treated for “potable” use for direct or indirect consumption than all of the components used in the process must comply with NSF/ANSI 61 standard to assure that the components that have direct contact with the water are safe and will not introduce any foreign substance during the treatment process. Decarbonation towers have direct exposure and contact with the water during the removal of CO2 and therefore must be manufactured from material such as Fiberglass (FRP) that complies and meets the NSF/ANSI 61 standard.

Fiberglass FRP tanks and towers complying with NSF/ANSI 61 standard

requires the use of certified FRP resins and protocols during the fabrication process of the Decarbonation tower. It is normal protocol at DeLoach Industries Inc. to install a veil lining inside of a Decarbonator or Degasification tower that complies with NSF/ANSI 61 standards to safeguard all potable water projects. Decarbonators are utilized in the food and beverage industry, municipal industry, pisciculture, semiconductor industry, and other industrial markets. In addition to the Decarbonator complying with the NSF/ANSI 61 standard it is equally important that the fiberglass (FRP) tanks also comply with the same standard and follow the same protocols during the manufacturing process. The NSF/ANSI 61 standard was developed to safeguard the public and provide assurances that water is free from impurities.

Basics of water decarbonation for dissolved organic carbon.

The water treatment industry continues to develop and evolve and over the past two decades there have been many new developments in technology and even more refinement in existing technologies such as "Degasification". The evolution and advancement of water treatment have been driven by the constantly increasing demand from an increase in population that demand cost-effective solutions and recognition to improve safety with the implementation of NSF 61 standards.

All human cultures on our planet share a single commonality and that is the dependency on water to survive.

Many existing technologies such as "Degasification" have evolved with higher efficiency to meet the demand changes and provide safety to consumers and to the systems. Degasification refers to the removal of dissolved gases from liquids and the science to degasify water is based upon a chemistry equation known as "Henry's Law". The "proportionality factor" is called Henry's law constant" and was developed by William Henry in the early 19th century. Henry's Law states that "the amount of dissolved gas is proportional to its partial pressure in the gas". The most "cost" effective method to perform degasification is with the packed vertical tower called a "Degasifier” or “Decarbonator”.

The key words in this previous sentence for owners, operators, and engineers to focus on is "the most cost-effective" as there is no other process more cost-effective at removing dissolved gases at the lowest cost than the use of a Degasifier or decarbonator. The process of degasification is simple enough to understand. Water is pumped to the top of a vertically constructed tower where it first enters the tower through some type of distribution system at the same time there is a cross current air flowing up from the bottom by a blower located at the bottom of the tower and the air encounters the water and is exhausted at the top of the tower through an exhaust port. There are various types of distributions systems and we will explore these in later discussions. Once the water enters the top of the tower and passes through the distribution system it then travels by gravity downward. The next thing the water encounters is some type of media packing. There are various forms of media packing offered in the degasification industry and each type can offer higher performance or have the ability to deter fouling. The selection of the type, size, and volume is where the “experience, engineering and understanding of each application” comes in to play.

When selecting a water treatment process it is important to consider all of the variables for the application before deciding on materials to be considered and the method of construction. In the water industry professionals are governed by certain requirements and standards and you will commonly here the terms “NSF certification”. FDA Chapter 21 and NSF/ANSI 61 standard also applies.