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PFAS are a persistent recalcitrant family of compounds, characterized by long, fluorinated carbon chains. Remediation of PFAS-contaminated soil and water has had limited success due to the chemical stability of PFAS, although thermal treatment options are currently being explored as the best option for achieving substantial destruction of PFAS. Due to the high thermal stability of PFAS, however, temperatures greater than 700°C are required to destroy PFAS and temperatures above 1000°C are necessary to minimize production of short-chained volatile organic fluorines (VOFs) and fluorinated dioxins and furans (PFDD/F).

Managing organic sludge and biosolids, the major by-products from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), persists as a widespread challenge that often constitutes the majority of WWTP operating costs. Self-sustained smoldering combustion is a new approach for organic waste treatment, in which the waste – the combustion fuel – is destroyed in an energy efficient manner after mixing it with a porous matrix.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) and acid rock drainage (ARD) present a significant environmental challenge due to the oxidation of metal sulfides in waste rock or mine tailings. The removal of sulfide from mine waste (e.g., tailings) can be achieved using thermal treatment technologies with highly elevated temperatures (e.g., in the range of 600 to 1000°C for removal of sulfide from pyrite). Savron’s ex-situ smoldering (STARx) systems are a low cost, energy efficient process, which have demonstrated potential for remediating AMD/ARD-generating wastes. Temperatures sufficient for complete sulfide removal (i.e., in excess of 1000°C) can be generated via smoldering with the use of a surrogate fuel.