CustoMem has developed a novel bio-based adsorbent material that can selectively capture micropollutants including pesticides, pharmaceuticals and high-performance chemicals like per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from wastewater. The company is exhibiting at WEFTEC 2018 at booth No. 3129m in the Innovations Pavilion.
The new bio-adsorbent is called CGM (CustoMem Granular Media) can selectively capture micropollutants in standard steel tank processing equipment and the captured waste is disposed of safely or re-purposed. The CGM can then be chemically regenerated using a non-hazardous proprietary wash.
“Our CGM product can treat industrial wastewater and help restore legacy contamination sites, thus preventing leaching into drinking water and agricultural land,” said CustoMem CEO Henrik Hagemann.
Public concern
The adsorbent has been developed at a time when there is increasing public concern and push for regulation of PFAS chemicals in water sources. After the recent state of emergency in Michigan county and toxicological research by US Department of Health and Human Services, the EPA is under pressure to act against public PFAS exposure.
“A critical point,” explained Henrik Hagemann, “is that our CGM’s optimised performance allows faster flowrates and saves floor space, utilising up to four times less plant footprint than activated carbon solutions. This provides significant cost savings to customers compared with traditional adsorbent materials like anion-exchange media and granular activated carbon.”
