CSU WES Seminar - 02.18.2026 Dr. Sarah Sühnholz (Colorado School of Mines)

Title: Confronting Forever Chemicals: Treatment Technologies and Field Lessons from PFAS Remediation Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent one of the most pressing challenges in environmental remediation due to their extreme persistence, mobility, and resistance to conventional treatment processes. Addressing PFAS contamination requires a combination of effective removal, destructive treatment, and field-deployable remediation strategies. This presentation provides an overview of PFAS and where they occur, current advances in PFAS degradation and treatment, with a focus on bridging laboratory innovation and real-world implementation. Key destructive technologies will be discussed, including advanced oxidation and reduction processes, adsorptive remediation, and emerging approaches. Particular emphasis will be placed on the understanding of PFAS transformation, treatment performance, and the formation of transformation products. In parallel, the role of adsorption-based technologies as both stand-alone and coupled treatment solutions will be examined, including the use of activated carbon and modified sorbent materials in in-situ and ex-situ configurations. Field applications will be highlighted through pilot- and full-scale case studies, demonstrating design considerations, injection strategies, longevity, and performance monitoring of sorptive remediation barriers. The presentation closes with practical field applications, discussing achievements as well as unexpected challenges and key lessons learned.