Tackling PFAS contamination - the role of carbon-based solutions in ensuring safe drinking water

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’, have become a significant environmental challenge worldwide.

With the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adding nine additional PFAS compounds to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) in January 2025 - bringing the total to 205 - the urgency to find effective treatment solutions has never been greater.

While much of the regulatory focus in 2024 was on addressing PFAS in drinking water, this expansion of the TRI highlights the increasing need to mitigate these contaminants at their source.

Seb Evans speaks to Andy McClure, Business Development Director at Jacobi Carbons, a global specialist in activated carbon and ion exchange media, provides insight into the latest advancements in PFAS removal technologies, the challenges posed by these persistent pollutants, and the critical role carbon-based solutions play in ensuring safe drinking water.

Adapting to regulatory changes

The regulatory landscape surrounding PFAS is rapidly evolving.

This creates uncertainty for industries and municipalities alike.

“A lot of people are now in wait-and-see mode,” McClure explains.

“There’s significant uncertainty around how wastewater discharge regulations will be managed going forward.”

This uncertainty stems from recent shifts in the US political landscape, where a rollback or pause on wastewater discharge regulations has raised concerns about whether industries will be required to treat PFAS at the source.

“From my perspective, it would be much easier to treat PFAS at the discharge point before it’s released into the environment rather than waiting to remove it at the drinking water stage, where concentrations are significantly lower and treatment becomes more complex and costly,” McClure notes.

The challenges with PFAS removal

PFAS are incredibly persistent in the environment. Their removal presents unique challenges.

The variation in PFAS compounds, particularly between long-chain and short-chain variants, further complicates treatment efforts.

“There are thousands of PFAS compounds, and each water source is unique,” McClure says.

“Background chemistry and organics in the water influence how well different treatment technologies work.”

The increasing number of identified PFAS compounds also raises concerns about whether current treatment technologies can keep pace.

“You’re putting in technology to treat a limited number of PFAS compounds, and suddenly a new suite of compounds is identified.

“The key is to develop robust technologies capable of addressing a broad array of these chemicals.”

The role of activated carbon and ion exchange resins

Among the leading technologies for PFAS removal, activated carbon and ion exchange resins have proven to be highly effective.

“Activated carbon is particularly effective at removing long-chain PFAS compounds, while ion exchange resins are better suited for short-chain variants,” McClure explains.

“By using both technologies together, you get a more comprehensive solution.”

Activated carbon, particularly coconut-shell-based varieties, has been widely used for water treatment due to its high microporosity, making it effective for PFAS adsorption.

However, as McClure points out: “Coal-based carbons are often considered the best fit for PFAS removal, but water chemistry plays a critical role.

“Municipalities should evaluate multiple carbon types to determine the best fit for their specific conditions.”

Ion exchange resins, on the other hand, offer strong affinity for smaller PFAS molecules.

“These resins have high affinity for the negatively charged PFAS molecules, which are attracted to the positively charged groups on the resin surface. This trait makes ion exchange resins advantageous over carbon for some of the short and branched chain PFAS molecules.” McClure says.

Advancements in treatment technologies

Research into PFAS removal is ongoing, with companies like Jacobi Group developing new solutions to enhance efficiency.

“We are actively working on carbons that are more tailored to PFAS removal,” McClure reveals.

“These advancements aim to optimize pore structures to improve absorption capacity while maintaining cost-effectiveness.”

One of the key challenges facing all PFAS treatment technologies is waste disposal.

“Once PFAS is removed, the question becomes, ‘What do you do with the waste?’” McClure explains.

“In the case of activated carbon, the advantage is that it can be thermally reactivated, effectively destroying PFAS while allowing the carbon to be reused.”

Jacobi Group has successfully implemented reactivation processes in Europe.

“Our facility in Germany has been approved to reactivate spent carbon from drinking water treatment, proving that we can safely destroy PFAS while recycling the carbon for further use,” McClure states.

“This is a truly sustainable approach, as opposed to landfilling or incinerating spent media.”

“Holistically, Jacobi is targeting a solution-based approach to PFAS treatment with our customers, incorporating the filtration media (activated carbon and/or ion exchange), adsorbers (in Europe, these are our Mobile Filter Units, or MFU’s for short), and exchange/analytical/disposal services including reactivation.

“Our European region can offer this full package today, and we are working on this full solutions package in other regions as well.”

Why early adoption matters

With regulations tightening and public awareness growing, early adoption of PFAS treatment solutions offers significant advantages for municipalities and water treatment facilities.

“If you’re a municipality and you find PFAS in your water, your citizens will demand action,” McClure explains.

“By proactively implementing treatment solutions, utilities can demonstrate leadership and reassure the public that they are ahead of the issue.”

Some municipalities in the US have already taken steps to implement PFAS treatment ahead of federal regulations.

“We’ve seen a number of forward-thinking utilities installing treatment systems in anticipation of stricter regulations,” McClure says.

“They recognize that, one way or another, PFAS treatment will become necessary, and they’d rather get ahead of it now than be forced into a rushed response later.”

The future of PFAS treatment

Looking ahead, McClure predicts that while activated carbon, ion exchange resins, and membrane technologies will remain the dominant treatment methods in the near term, new destruction technologies will eventually play a larger role.

“There are a lot of emerging technologies aimed at breaking down PFAS on-site rather than simply removing and concentrating it,” he says.

“But commercializing these technologies is a challenge.

“Many promising solutions never make it past the pilot phase due to cost, scalability, or regulatory hurdles.”

McClure believes that while new methods will eventually gain traction, proven technologies will continue to be the backbone of PFAS treatment for the foreseeable future.

“Municipalities should use established solutions like activated carbon and ion exchange resins, while keeping an eye on emerging technologies.

“The key is to have a flexible approach that allows for adaptation as new methods become viable.”

A sustainable path forward

As the world grapples with the widespread presence of PFAS, innovative and sustainable treatment solutions are critical to ensuring safe drinking water.

Activated carbon, particularly when combined with ion exchange resins, offers a proven and adaptable solution.

Moreover, advancements in carbon reactivation provide a sustainable pathway for managing PFAS-contaminated waste.

“The phrase our team likes to use is ‘A forever solution for a forever problem,’” McClure says.

“Reactivation allows us to safely destroy PFAS while recycling carbon for reuse, making it one of the most viable long-term strategies for PFAS treatment.”

While the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, one thing is certain: the demand for effective, scalable, and sustainable PFAS removal solutions will only continue to grow.

With innovative companies like Jacobi Group forging a path forward, the future of water treatment is poised to become more efficient, adaptable, and environmentally responsible.