Across the United States and around the world, communities are waking up to the danger of PFAS—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—polluting their groundwater. These synthetic chemicals, often referred to as "forever chemicals," resist degradation in the environment. Manufacturers have used them since the 1940s in non-stick cookware, waterproof fabrics, firefighting foams, food packaging, and countless other applications. Over time, PFAS leached into soil, rivers, and aquifers, contaminating the drinking water supplies of millions silently.
The health risks associated with PFAS exposure are serious and well-documented. Long-term exposure, even at low levels, can increase the risk of kidney and testicular cancers, liver damage, hormone disruption, immune system suppression, and developmental issues in children. Unlike bacteria or some organic compounds, PFAS don't degrade naturally. Once these chemicals seep into groundwater, they travel long distances and remain intact for decades, making them especially difficult to remove.
Regulators now recognize the urgency. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently set maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for certain PFAS compounds at just a few parts per trillion (ppt)—a microscopic threshold that underscores their toxicity. Meeting these new limits has proven challenging and costly for municipalities, military bases, industrial facilities, and airports, all of which face legacy contamination and heightened public scrutiny.
Traditional filtration methods, such as granular activated carbon (GAC) and ion-exchange resins, often struggle to meet these new standards consistently. These systems typically require high pressure, frequent maintenance, and significant energy input. Worse, many allow PFAS breakthrough before full media saturation, creating uncertainty in performance and cost.
This is where Smart Sponge Quanta™, developed by Abtech Industries, changes the game.
Smart Sponge Quanta™ offers a new generation of filtration technology specifically engineered to remove PFAS and other persistent contaminants from water. It combines a polymer matrix with an enhanced biochar core to create a porous, chemically selective filter media. Unlike GAC or ion exchange resins, Quanta™ doesn't just trap PFAS on the surface—it absorbs and permanently sequesters them inside its structure. Independent tests show that even when fully saturated, Smart Sponge Quanta™ does not leach PFAS back into the environment.
What sets this technology apart is its efficiency and simplicity. Quanta™ can reduce PFAS concentrations from over 4,000 ppt to less than five ppt in under two minutes. It supports flow rates of up to 40 gallons per minute per square foot, five times faster than traditional systems, all while operating at minimal back pressure—often less than one psi. It works equally well under gravity-fed systems and low-pressure applications, which eliminates the need for complex pump setups or energy-intensive processes.
Cost matters, too. Quanta™ delivers roughly 50% lower capital costs and up to 35% lower lifecycle costs than GAC or resin systems. It easily integrates into existing filtration infrastructure with minimal retrofitting, and its long lifespan reduces maintenance and media change-out schedules. When the media reaches capacity, users can safely dispose of it through waste-to-energy facilities, cement kilns, or approved landfills—thanks to its non-leaching design.
Beyond PFAS, Smart Sponge Quanta™ also captures heavy metals, hydrocarbons, phosphorus, and bacteria, making it ideal for complex sites where multiple contaminants coexist. Municipal utilities, industrial operators, and environmental engineers now use this technology in stormwater systems, groundwater remediation projects, and treatment of landfill leachate and construction dewatering.
The PFAS crisis demands innovation that's fast, scalable, and proven. Smart Sponge Quanta™ answers that call. It gives communities and industries a powerful tool to protect public health and the environment without breaking budgets or requiring high-tech overhauls. As regulators tighten standards and contamination hotspots emerge, this innovative, adaptable solution offers a way forward—clean water delivered safely and sustainably.
Let's not wait another decade to solve a problem we can tackle today. With Smart Sponge Quanta™, the path to PFAS-free water starts now.
801-264-1114
