Advanced water treatment and remediation technologies remove PFAS with over 90% efficiency, helping industries meet regulatory standards.
Industries worldwide face increasing pressure to manage PFAS discharges, remediate contaminated sites and safely handle hazardous liquids such as firefighting foams (AFFF). In response to this challenge, Photon Water, founded in 2018, and its recently launched brand Photon Remediation (2024) offer a comprehensive suite of solutions combining advanced water treatment, waste management and soil and groundwater remediation.
“By leveraging years of research, patented nanotechnologies and international field experience, we deliver a complete toolbox for PFAS management – from industrial wastewater treatment to on-site remediation,” says Petr Kvapil, Managing Director of Photon Water.
TecPFAS™: Industrial wastewater treatment
Photon Water’s TecPFAS™ system is designed to provide high-efficiency removal of PFAS from water while enabling water reuse. The modular, multi-stage system can be adapted to various industrial operations. It offers both flexibility and rapid deployment.
A concrete example is the collaboration with the Czech manufacturer of aviation components, Jihostroj. The pilot project tested TecPFAS™ on two types of water: wastewater from electroplating processes and rainwater collected from the facility grounds. After installing a full-scale system, PFOS concentrations in treated wastewater were reduced from over 8,000 ng/L to below 10 ng/L, achieving over 99.5% removal. Approximately 70% of treated water was recycled into production, providing significant operational savings and making the investment financially viable within a few years.
The system is operated via an industrial computer with remote monitoring and a graphical interface integrated into the Photon Matic application, allowing real-time tracking and control of the treatment process.
“Our priority is to help industries stay ahead of tightening regulations while improving operational efficiency,” says Petr Kvapil. “TecPFAS™ not only removes PFAS effectively but also allows a significant portion of treated water to be recycled into production. It’s an example of how environmental responsibility and industrial efficiency can go hand in hand.”
WaterGuard Nano™: In-situ groundwater remediation
Legacy contamination from historical PFAS use remains a pressing global issue. WaterGuard Nano technology offers an efficient, non-disruptive approach to PFAS remediation in groundwater. This patented solution combines zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) with a low-intensity electric field, enhancing the breakdown of PFAS and co-contaminants more effectively than nanoiron treatment alone. WaterGuard Nano is available exclusively through Photon Remediation and represents one of the most advanced in-situ remediation technologies on the market.
Field applications and real-world projects have demonstrated that WaterGuard Nano can remove 70% to 90% of PFAS and associated contaminants. The process occurs entirely underground, minimising site disruption and allowing ongoing operations to continue without interruption.
The technology is highly adaptable and can be customised to site-specific conditions, including electrode placement, injection well configuration and liquid suspension formulation. It can also be integrated into treatment trains alongside other remediation approaches, such as bioremediation or EarthGuard PRB™, Photon Remediation’s patent-pending soil remediation technology. This flexibility enables a holistic remediation strategy capable of addressing multiple contaminants at once.
For example, in an ongoing project with chemical manufacturer Solvay, WaterGuard Nano is being combined with bioremediation to target hydrocarbon contamination, demonstrating the technology’s versatility and effectiveness across different pollutants.
The system uses non-toxic materials, environmentally safe processes and can be powered by solar energy, requiring less energy than many ex-situ alternatives.
PFAS eliminator: Safe liquid and foam disposal
The European Union is phasing out PFAS-based firefighting foams, leaving many facilities with the challenge of replacing them while safely decommissioning existing stocks and cleaning contaminated infrastructure. Addressing this need, the PFAS Eliminator provides mobile and stationary solutions for the secure disposal of PFAS-contaminated liquids and foams (AFFF).
The system can process up to 15m³ per day, handling PFAS concentrations of up to 150,000 ng/L and reducing them to below 10 ng/L. It combines multiple technologies to achieve maximum efficiency, including mechanical filtration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, activated carbon and ion exchange.
solutions
To ensure safe operation, the PFAS Eliminator is equipped with fire protection system, comprehensive occupational health and safety documentation and detailed operating procedures.
From research to real-world impact
Photon Water’s solutions are underpinned by rigorous research and collaboration with scientific and policy networks. The company participates in European and national R&D programmes, including PFAS_TECH on advanced remediation technologies, EiCLaR on next-generation bioremediation, LIFEPOPWAT on wetland systems for contaminated sites or LIFE4ZOO on sustainable water management in zoos.
This commitment to rigorous science and real-world deployment has enabled Photon Water and Photon Remediation to build a track record of international projects spanning the Czech Republic, the EU, Australia, China and beyond.
Clean water, clean energy
As part of the Photon Energy Group, the companies benefit from synergies between clean water and renewable energy. Water treatment and remediation systems can be powered by solar energy and operated independently of the grid. This reduces costs and enhances the sustainability of cleanup projects.
Solutions for today and tomorrow
Key advantages of integrated Photon Water and Photon Remediation solutions include:
- High efficiency: PFAS removal up to 99.5%.
- Environmental safety: Non-toxic materials, low-impact in-situ remediation, renewable energy integration.
- Operational flexibility: Modular, mobile, and containerised systems for rapid deploymen.t
- Water reuse: Up to 70% of treated water recycled into production.
- Regulatory compliance: Designed to meet European and international standards.
- Comprehensive service: From risk assessment to monitoring and maintenance.
- Global Experience: Projects across the Czech Republic, the EU and Australia.
Through practical solutions and innovative technologies, Photon Water and Photon Remediation empower industries to take meaningful action today, creating a safer, cleaner environment.
Please note, this article will also appear in the 23rd edition of our quarterly publication.
