Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals,” have emerged as a significant environmental and public health threat due to their persistence in soil and water, resistance to degradation, and associations with cancer, immune dysfunction, and developmental issues.
Commonly found in firefighting foams, industrial waste, and consumer products, PFAS compounds have contaminated thousands of sites across the United States. Now, a major step forward in PFAS destruction has been achieved.
Aquagga, Inc. recently completed a successful demonstration of its Hydrothermal Alkaline Treatment (HALT) technology for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), marking a pivotal moment in the nationwide effort to eliminate these toxic substances from the environment.
Conducted under the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), this demonstration tested HALT’s capabilities in challenging PFAS-laden waste streams, and the results show strong promise.
HALT technology passes critical field test
Aquagga’s proprietary HALT technology was one of only four destruction methods selected by the DoD for rigorous field trials.
Over the course of the demonstration at a third-party site in North Carolina, the company’s Steed Series system processed various highly concentrated PFAS waste streams, including a firefighting foam (AFFF) mixture – one of the most difficult sources of PFAS contamination to treat.
While final analysis results are expected by Q3 2025, early indications suggest the HALT system effectively neutralised the toxic compounds. This successful test marks a major step toward standardising reliable PFAS destruction methods across military operations.
Brian Pinkard, PhD, Aquagga CTO and Co-Founder, commented: “This project was a pivotal moment for us to demonstrate HALT’s capabilities and functionality, and we are incredibly proud of how our team and our technology performed.
“We achieved safe and highly effective destruction of PFAS in challenging waste streams, proving that our solution operates reliably and efficiently in the field.”
A cost-effective alternative for PFAS management
Due to their persistence in the environment and links to serious health risks, the development of scalable and safe PFAS destruction technologies is a national priority.
Aquagga’s HALT system offers a promising solution by providing an onsite, efficient, and cost-effective method for PFAS elimination.
Unlike traditional disposal techniques that often require incineration or long-term storage, HALT minimises transportation risks and reduces liability for federal agencies.
Paving the way for national deployment
Aquagga is the first vendor to complete its full demonstration scope under the ESTCP initiative. This achievement not only validates HALT’s operational readiness but also positions the company for broader deployment across the nation’s defence infrastructure and beyond.
Chris Woodruff, COO and Co-Founder, added: “We’re grateful to be part of this groundbreaking initiative, working closely with key DoD stakeholders and other innovative companies to demonstrate scalable, cost-effective technology pairings to tackle broad DoD PFAS challenges.
“We look forward to pursuing follow-on opportunities, helping reduce PFAS liability for the DoD, and eliminating harmful contaminants from drinking water supplies for service members and adjacent communities.”
As environmental and regulatory pressures mount, this milestone could signal a new era in PFAS destruction – bringing scalable, field-ready solutions closer to widespread adoption.
