Controlled Hydrodynamic Cavitation (CHC) Pilot Testing of Industrial/Municipal Wastewaters - Case Study Summary
Controlled Hydrodynamic Cavitation (CHC) has emerged as a highly promising treatment platform. The CHC system is an advanced, “chemical free” process (unless desired and added) that integrates electrolysis, precisely controlled hydrodynamic cavitation, and multi media filtration to destabilize, oxidize, and remove contaminants—including PFAS—with high efficiency. The system’s multi-media filtration train can utilize PFAS ready activated carbon (GAC and/or PAC) when appropriate, which subsequently can be reactivated at elevated temperatures to ensure PFAS destruction. The CHC system also includes a small, dual stage, industrial RO unit to provide ultra clean water for automated filtration media backwashing.
In the summer of 2024, CIP Solutions began performing CHC pilot tests on different industrial and municipal wastewaters, including landfill leachate. Our pilot testing program starts with the end goal in mind which is heavily influenced by the preferred disposal or discharge options available, and the corresponding treatment criteria to satisfy those options. These disposal/discharge options may include deep well injection, publicly owned treatment works (POTW), reuse for either reclaimed water or aquifer recharge purposes, or potentially surface water discharge. Due to the increasingly high demand for water in Florida and elsewhere across the United States, POTW effluent is often being treated and recycled for other beneficial reuse(s). The modular CHC treatment train offers flexibility to meet requirements for these different options.
Let us do a deeper data dive on a couple of the landfill leachate pilot tests for two reasons: (1) the complex nature and difficulty of treating leachate; and (2) the omni-presence of PFAS (Forever Chemicals). Landfill leachate is especially difficult to treat due to its variable and elevated concentrations of organics, inorganics, ammonia, dissolved solids, metals, and PFAS. As regulatory pressure continues to increase and liabilities expand, landfill operators, municipalities, and regulators are all seeking effective and sustainable technologies capable of managing this complex waste stream.
The tables below provide a high-level summary for a couple of landfill leachate pilot tests performed by CIP Solutions. The top portion of the table provides a summary of several common wastewater parameters for influent and effluent samples, and percentage change. Despite the heavily impacted influent, the CHC pilot test was able to achieve primary and secondary drinking water standards for the treated effluent. This effluent quality would satisfy the local POTW pretreatment requirements and far exceed those suitable for deep well injection.
The lower portion of the table provides a high-level summary of the PFAS analytical results obtained from a leachate pilot test performed at another landfill. The PFA removal efficiencies for the CHC pilot testing system were at 98% following the multi-media filtration and 100% following the RO polished backwash. Additionally, review of the TOP Assay results from the post filtration sample indicate just under 98% removal of the detectable precursors and the RO polishing sample achieved 100% (non-detect) following treatment.
Leachate – Common Wastewater Parameter Sampling Results
| Parameter | Units | Pilot Test #3 | Pilot Test #4 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Influent | Effluent | % Change | Influent | Effluent | % Change | ||
| pH | su | 7.48 | 5.9 | -21% | 6.74 | 6.3 | -7% |
| Spec Conductivity | ms/cm | 31.18 | 0.18 | -99% | 30.25 | 0.69 | -98% |
| TDS | mg/L | 29,560 | 111.8 | -100% | 21,900 | 260 | -99% |
| TSS | mg/L | 670 | <5 | -100% | 2,940 | <5 | -100% |
| Turbidity | NTUs | >1,000 | 1.34 | -100% | >1,000 | 1.9 | -100% |
| ORP | mV | -131 | 103 | aerobic | -225 | 93 | aerobic |
| TOC | mg/L | 7,040 | 10.4 | -100% | 8,300 | 31.6 | -100% |
| COD | mg/L | 19,300 | 34.8 | -100% | 23,300 | 95.8 | -100% |
| TP | mg/L | 3.4 | 0.4 | -88% | 35 | 0.18 | -99% |
| TN | mg/L | 1,990 | 8.6 | -100% | 1,800 | 36 | -98% |
| NH3-N (Ammonia) | mg/L | 1,790 | 10 | -99% | 1,800 | 36 | -98% |
Bold green = >98% parameter reduction achieved
Leachate PFAS Pilot Test #5 — Targeted PFAS Results
| PFAS Analyte | Units | USEPA MCL | Influent | Post Filtration | Post RO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | ng/L | 4 | 370 | 6.63 | <0.537 |
| PFNA | ng/L | 10 | 17.1 | <0.537 | <0.555 |
| PFBS | ng/L | — | 95.7 | 2.15 | <0.492 |
| PFHxS | ng/L | 10 | 165 | 3 | <0.481 |
| PFOS | ng/L | 4 | 109 | 2.61 | <0.571 |
| Total PFAS Mass (Method 1633A) | ng/L | — | 756.8 | 14.4 | 0.0 |
| % Mass Reduction | — | 98.1% | 100.0% | ||
Leachate PFAS Pilot Test #5 — Nontargeted PFAS Results
| Analyte | Units | MCL | Influent | Post Filtration | Post RO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TF — Total Fluorine | mg/L | — | <4.0 | <4.0 | <4.0 |
| AOF — Adsorbable Organic Fluorine | ug/L | — | 9.7 | 8.4 | <3.4 |
| TOP Assay Diff (PFAS Precursors) | ng/L | — | 238J | 5.35J | ND |
| % Mass Reduction | — | 97.8% | 100.0% | ||
In addition to the pilot tests described above, CIP Solutions successfully completed similar pilot tests on numerous other industrial and municipal wastewater sources.
In summary, the CHC treatment system is an innovative, flexible, and highly effective technology capable of reducing PFAS and other wastewater and leachate contaminants to levels suitable for POTW discharge, reclaimed water reuse, or UIC disposal.
If interested in learning more about CIP Solutions’ pilot testing program and wastewater treatment capabilities, please contact us.