Approaching regulatory mandates are expected to significantly alter the management practices related to the disposal and beneficial use of water residuals – solid residue generated from the clarification of potable, sewage, and industrial process waters. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of manufactured chemicals used in a wide range of consumer and industrial products. PFAS do not easily breakdown and some types have been shown to accumulate in the environment and in humans.

Landfills have increasingly limited acceptance of water residuals over structural and odor concerns. Perceived liability associated with PFAS in the material will further reduce the availability of landfills as an outlet. Land application, traditionally the largest and least costly outlet for water residuals, has also come under greater scrutiny with some states limiting or banning such practices. Anticipated regulatory enforcement and diminishing management solutions will likely result in significantly increased management costs creating market demand for a reliable strategy to protect public health and support its potable, sanitary, and industrial manufacturing needs at an acceptable cost.

Technology

Heartland HelioStorm

The HelioStorm™ generates electrical arcs across the diameter of the gasifier. The gasifier is arranged in a modular design. Each module generates multiple electric arcs that evenly cover the cross-sectional area of the gasifier. The use of the electrical arcs can result in temperatures in each module approaching ten thousand degrees Celsius. These temperatures are much higher than is typically found in other gasifiers. The electric arcs also expose the feed material to high electrical currents. This results in a very high temperature gasification zone with intense ionic activity.

This ultra-high temperature gasification zone tends to reduce the compounds in the feed material into the component atoms. Exiting the modules, there is a rapid temperature quench where the atoms recombine into molecules and further reactions are limited by the decreasing temperatures. This tends to maximize production of desirable molecules like hydrogen and carbon monoxide while minimizing the production of less desirable molecules such as water, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. This ultra-high temperature ionic zone will also rapidly decompose impurities in the feed such as microplastics and PFAS.

Ultra High Temperature Ionic Gasification

• Entire interior of the processor is an ultra-high temperature reaction zone

• Processing zone contains hyper-energetic gaseous ions, accelerating conversion process

• Vaporizes all feedstock, including carbon

• Transforms water into high-energy oxygen and hydrogen radicals and ions, rather than lower-energy steam

• Waste completely breaks down to individual atoms and ions generating a consistent tar-free syngas with no by-products or toxin production