Now we have some preliminary results from this small non scientific trial using phytoremediation showing a uptake of 15-30mg/ha/year.
We use a simple “pump and treat” by recirculate a groundwater over a plot 80m2 planted with willow. The total Pfas in the recirculated water was about 300 000ng/l in the start and over the summer it reduce to 200 000ng/l.
During the summer a submersible pump irrigated the experiment every two hours with 2-3 mm of contaminated groundwater. The large amount of irrigation water has a “washing” effect on the soil and brings the Pfas to the roots of the willow
In September when the leaves still was attached the willow was harvested and had now grow up to 4m.
Analyses of the mixture of stem branches and leaves indicates an uptake of approx. 1500ng/g pfas mostly 6:2 FTSA but also high levels of Pfos. This gives an uptake of approx. 15-30g pfas/ha/year
Next step is to incinerate in a scientific boiler to find out if the Pfas is total destroyed or there do they end up.
Laqua Treatment AB 