Advanced Separation for Emerging Contaminants
Reverse osmosis is a high-efficiency separation process that uses a specially engineered thin-film membrane to allow water molecules to pass through while retaining contaminants. The resulting concentrate, or reject water, can be further treated using complementary technologies—such as Surface-Active Foam Fractionation (SAFF®)—to target and manage persistent compounds like PFAS.
Water Types for Treatment
Landfill Leachates
Ground Waters
Wastewaters
Industrial Discharge Waters
How It Works
Water that contains PFAS and other contaminants is first pressurized inside the reverse osmosis system by utilizing pumps. This pressure is necessary to push the water against the RO membrane allowing for the required separation. Without added force, the water molecules wouldn’t be able to move through the fine pores of the membrane.
As the stream is pressurized, it overcomes the natural osmotic pressure allowing water to pass through the membrane while separating the contaminants like PFAS. Crystal Clean selects membrane sizes based upon the contaminants needing to be removed in the stream. The result is a physical barrier separating clean water from harmful substances.
The purified water (the “permeate”) moves through the system, while PFAS and other pollutants (the “reject”) are collected. This creates a clear distinction between clean water ready for discharge and concentrated waste.
The permeate is collected where it can be sampled and prepared for discharge. The concentrated reject waste stream, which contains PFAS and other contaminants, is directed away from the system for additional treatment and disposal. Crystal Clean offers a variety of options to treat and dispose reject waste streams.
Nationwide Network, Personalized Support
With a nationwide network of branches, waste treatment facilities, and service providers, Crystal Clean and the 4never™ teams are always within reach. Crystal Clean operates more than 130 service branches, industrial services facilities, and waste recovery centers serving the continental United States.
