Coffee Session with Baltic Sea PFAS Network

October 2025

Title: Stabilisation of PFAS with activated carbon: Experience from a Governmental Assignment in Sweden
Talk initiator: Robert Earon, Swedish Geotechnical Institute

September 2025

Title: PFAS at Swedish wastewater treatment plants – occurrence, transformation and separation
Talk initiator: Linda Önnby, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute

June 2025

Title: The Forever Lobbying Project exposes industry disinformation campaign
Talk initiator: Stéphane Horel and Daniel Värjö

April 2025

Title: Meeting PFAS at the Source: Overview of Levels and Compositions in Firefighting Foams and Extinguishers
Talk initiator: Dauren Mussabek, Lund University

March 28th – Activated carbon – Opportunities and challenges in PFAS adsorption

We invite Mattias Modén from Jacobi, and here is your opportunities to ask questions. Mattias has a long extensive experience with GAC. When new technologies are tested, what we see is that these tests usually are compared with the performance against GAC, aka. “is this better than GAC”? It is seen as mature and safe choice, and there are myths or maybe a drive to wanting to look for “better” technologies.

Talk intiatior: Mattias Modén, Jacobi Carbons

February 28th – Fluoro-sorb® Reactive Core Mat – PFAS Adsorption Mechanism and Applications

Dr. Donovan currently manages the global research and development of innovative building materials, environmental products, and construction drilling products for CETCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mineral Technologies Incorporated (MTI). Earning a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from St. Norbert College in Green Bay Wisconsin and a doctorate in Polymer Science and Engineering from the University of Southern Mississippi, Donovan has 48 issued patents and was the primary author of five peer reviewed journals. Prior to joining MTI, he was the Innovation Leader for the High Performance Polymer Division of SABIC Innovative Plastics (formerly General Electric Plastics).

Talk intiatior: Dr. Michael Donovan, Global R&D Director, Construction Technologies at Minerals Technologies Inc.

January 31st – PFAS in Indoor Air: The Invisible Risk

This month, we are listening to our colleague Georgios Giovanoulis from IVL! Topic? The title says all: PFAS in air, an area we have not covered much in earlier sessions. With the increased attentions in the PFAS pathways that are measurements and investigations, we hope this will be an interesting session to listen for many of you. And, as usual, we start with casual check-in, so please be ready to share your news too.

Talk intiatior: Georgios Giovanoulis (PhD) – Environmental Analytical Chemist and Researcher, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute

Topics from coffee sessions in 2024

January 1st – AquaGreen HECLA technology – Integrated steam drying and pyrolysis - deliver PFAS elimination from sewage sludge

We are excited for the new year and more discussions on PFAS with you all. First this year, we invite Christian Wieth from AquaGreen. Christian Wieth is CMO at AquaGreen since Nov 2020. He has a background as chemical engineer, and has worked more than 15 years in global marketing and business development positions.

Talk intiatior: Christian Wieth, Aquagreen

February 23rd – Screening and identification of PFAS in products

Their work related to broad analysis of PFAS in products that has been summarised in the recently published paper “Identification and quantification of fluorinated polymers in consumer products by combustion ion chromatography and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry” in Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts.

Talk intiatior: Lisa Skedung, RISE

April 26th – Micropollutant and PFAS removal – A new process with superfine adsorbents and Pile Cloth Media Filtration

Randy will join us next week to share process insights and their experience with the removal of organic micropollutants and PFAS from the perspective of the R&D department of a machine manufacturer.

Talk intiatior: Randy Schäfer, Thomas Fundneider, Mecana AG

May 31st – Upstream work in Eastern Mälaren – reflections on how to collaborate around the complex problem that is PFAS

This month, we welcome back Frida Ekman from SVOA Stockholm Vatten och Avfall in Sweden. Why again? You will hear about their journey in the project "Focus on PFAS in the Eastern Mälaren Water Protection Area". A bumpy start after their first report was published, to successful collaboration that lead to this report published in 2024.

Talk intiatior: Frida Ekman from SVOA Stockholm Vatten och Avfall

August 30th – Title: Aquatic plants, in combination with other methods, capture all PFAS.

This month, we welcome Jarmo who has been in business of cleaning up PFAS, using plants. Join to explore the world of phytoremediation, and hear his hands-on (or on the boat) experience in the field.

Talk intiatior: Jarmo Spiik, Clean Nature

October 10th – Fate of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in a Waste-to-Energy Plant - Tracking PFAS in Residual Streams

This month, we are inviting Sofie Björklund from Umeå University. On 27th September, Sofie will defend her thesis "Exploring the Occurrence, Distribution, and Transport of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in a Waste-to-Energy Plant." , and she has agreed to present her work to our network one week after. You will be first one to hear exciting topic after her defence!

Talk intiatior: Sofie Björklund, Umeå University

October 25th – Transport of PFAS in the soil-groundwater system

Fritjof's research focuses on subsurface flow and transport processes and how these are influenced by various reactions and processes. Recently my main focus has been on the fate transport & remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) . He also works with other contaminants (e.g. chlorinated organics) and geological storage of carbon dioxide, and teaches courses about e.g. groundwater and contaminant transport and I am the Examiner for MSc theses projects in Environmental and Water Engineering.

Talk intiatior: Fritjof Fagerlund, Uppsala University

November 29th – Advancing PFAS removal from water: adsorption and electrosorption of PFAS from water

We are welcoming Navid Saeidi from UFZ, who will kindly share his study that was published recently in Chemical Engineering Journal. "A FAIR comparison of activated carbon, biochar, cyclodextrins, polymers, resins, and metal organic frameworks for the adsorption of per- and polyfluorinated substances External link, opens in new window."

Talk intiatior: Navid Saeidi, Project Manager and Postdoctoral Researcher, Department Technical Biogeochemistry/Department Microbial Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH - UFZ

Topics from coffee sessions in 2023

August 25th – Mechanochemical remediation of PFAS in soils – Does it work?

Talk on this: Abstract: “Current decontamination strategies of PFAS-burdened soils mainly consist of adsorption methods using adsorbents for fixation of PFAS in the ground. A second option is the utilization of a “pump and treat” process, cycling polluted soils through a washing plant leading to the concentration of the pollutants in the fine fraction. Only a subsequent, high-energy consuming pyrolysis process guarantees the total destruction of all fluorinated organic contaminants.

These approaches are cost-intensive and not intended for the direct decomposition of all PFAS contaminants. Hence, there is a great demand for innovative developments and chemical treatment technologies, dealing with new strategies of tackling the PFAS problem. Thus, we investigated mechanochemical treatment of PFAS contaminated soils with various additives in a ball mill and analyzed the PFAS defluorination with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), respectively, as well as the fluoride mineralization by ion chromatography (IC) and fluorine K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy.”

Talk intiatior: Vogel, Christian <christian.vogel@bam.de>

June 30th – Discussion on the new EU limit guidelines of PFAS - do they have the numbers right?

No presentations, all members share their understanding where the PFAS development is.

May 26th – Enhanced natural attenuation of PFAS – a more sustainable approach

This month, we welcomed Jack Shore from Regenesis. Remediation in groundwater. We know what to do, but do we know how to do it sustainably?

Sustainable PFAS Remediation: the Environmental Impact of Enhanced Attenuation using Colloidal Activated Carbon.

The talk is about PFAS remediation in groundwater. We asked Jack to include in the talk: Do you treat at the source, or where PFAS are spread? How sustainable are the solutions? What is feasible, to eliminate or manage the risks?

Presentation: Sustainable PFAS Remediation: the Environmental Impact of Enhanced Attenuation using Colloidal Activated Carbon pdf, 4 MB.

April 4th – Cut-off concentrations of PFAS in sewage sludge

This month, we listen to John Jensen from Institute of Ecoscience at Aarhus University in Denmark, about PFAS in sewage sludge.

Safe cut off values for protection of freshwater, groundwater, soil eco systems and human health. PFAS in Sludge and leaching from sludge amends soils directly to recipients. Presentation included theoretical considerations regarding cut-off values in sludge protecting ground water, fresh water and soil ecosystems.

Presentation:

• PFAS in Sewage SludgePdf, 2.2 MB. pdf, 2.2 MB.
  
• Derivation of cut-off values for PFAS in sewage sludge pdf, 2.8 MB.Pdf, 2.8 MB. pdf, 2.8 MB.

March 31st – PFAS analysis methods and forever numbers

This month talk imitator is Raed Awad from IVL, a researcher with a wide experience in the PFAS analysis and method developments.

Raed Awad from IVL briefed us on the different analysis methods.

PFAS 4, PFAS 11, PFAS 21, PFAS 24, PFAS200... and forever numbers of PFAS analysis.

What analysis is suitable for different matrices, what are the challenges for the sample takers and labs, how big is the gap between analysis of target PFAS and unverifiable PFAS in different matrices.

Presentation: PFAS Analyse pdf, 807.5 kB.Pdf, 807.5 kB. pdf, 807.5 kB.

February 24th – An Upstream sources of PFAS to raw water in lake Mälaren-Görväln

This month talk initiator is Frida Ekman from SVOA Stockholm Vatten och Avfall, presenting the report on mass balance of PFAS flow into the lake Mälaren-Görväln.

Frida presented the case study in Stockholm and method to quantify the occurrence and spread of PFASs. After the report was published, they received many responses that led to further collaborations for a deeper study including more areas of the water body. These will be available autumn 2023.

Presentation: An Upstream sources of PFAS to raw water in lake Mälaren-Görväln pdf, 4.5 MB.

January 27th – Thermal destruction and measurements of PFAS

This month talk initiator is Dines Thornberg from BIOFOS. BIOFOS is the largest WWTP in Denmark presenting preliminary result of PFAS measurements in flue gas and tracking campaigns industries.

There are not many incineration plants who have investigated PFAS. Among the many we have contacted, BIOFOS, the largest WWTP in Denmark with incineration facility, agreed to join the discussion. They have measured PFAS in the flue gas from their incineration plants. In the second half of the session, we heard also about their work with the industry on upstream source tracking.

Presentation slides can be downloaded here, but please note that the information on the slides is not self-explanatory without having listened to Dines’ talk. Data provided in the slides are preliminary and should not be viewed as representative of the whole operation.

Topics from coffee sessions in 2022

November 25th – Pilot Scale Thermal Destruction of PFAS

This month talk initiator is William Linak who has talked about the latest study done at USEPA on PFAS destructions tests in combustion.

The test presented in his talk included measuring real time emissions, PIC (products of incomplete combustions) and evaluating the sensitivity of PFAS destruction on temperature.

About William: William Linak is a senior research engineer with the Air Methods and Characterization Division of EPA’s Office of Research and Development in Research Triangle Park, NC. He holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University and the University of Arizona. ​

Bill has been with ORD for 37 years and is the author of over 80 peer-reviewed journal publications on fundamental and applied topics pertaining to combustion and air pollution formation, characterization, and control. ​

October 28th – PFAS Data – what is available? Denmark and Sweden​

This month talk initiators are Melissa from IVL/Sweden and Anne Mette from Defense minister/Denmark who has presented available database in respective countries.

Mapping the contaminated sites is the one of the first steps towards PFAS work, but many countries lack those databases. Denmark has measurements since 2012, and Anne Mette presented the open database system for polluted sites and its structures. Melissa showed corresponding ones from Sweden. Questions were raised such as “who is managing the site?” “who can edit?” “How often is the database updated” etc.

• Denmark database Danmarks Miljoportal​External link, opens in new window. External link.
• Denmar database MiljodataExternal link, opens in new window. External link. ​
• Sweden database

September 30th – The use of PFAS as processing aids in inhaled medication​

This month, our member Michael Friel shared his long experience in looking into PFAS in inhalers. The usage of PFAS not widely known raised high interests and concerns.

About Michael: He works as a product developer in the area of aerosol delivery systems, AerbeathaExternal link, opens in new window. External link. in both pharma and non-pharma applications. He combines formulation (chemical) with delivery systems (mechanical) to generate the required aerosol particle characteristics.

Program

• Introduction to inhalers
• Historical timeline
• Environmental challenges and solutions
• Resulting consequences and new solutions

Presentation: The use of PFAS as processing aids in inhaled medication pdf, 1 MB.. External link.

June 3rd – LASTFIRE and the transition to PFAS free foam

This month talk initiators are Dr. Eleanor Lister & Dr. Niall Ramsden from UK who has presented LASTFIRE project and their firefighting foams tests.

LASTFIRE is a project of 16 oil company consortium to review the risk and promote safe Fire Hazard Management approach. Here, they shared extensive fire tests to provide sustainable policies on the selection and use of firefighting foams, from user driven test programmes. ​

Program:

• Introduction to LASTFIRE and the pragmatic approach to transition
• Summary of research and testing to date
• Repercussions to international system standards
• Non-firefighting performance transition issues
• Interim requirements
• Ongoing assurance
• Outstanding concerns
  • ­­Compatibility with equipment and other agents
  • ­­Long term stability/storage
  • Clean out - how clean is clean
  • Containment

Presentation

• The fluorine free issue pdf, 9.3 MB.