ON DEMAND - PFAS Immobilisation – from Application to Validation

PFAS immobilisation is fast being recognised as a pivotal tool in the cost effective and sustainable management of PFAS. While immobilisation does not destroy PFAS, it does present an affordable option to manage PFAS by preventing PFAS mass flows entering the environment. This too is particularly suited to large volumes of PFAS impacted soil, where total concentration in soil is relatively low – where destructive technologies do not lend themselves well based on cost, practicality, and net environmental benefit.

The webinar provides a high-level start to finish guide of the key consideration for running a successful PFAS immobilisation project, ranging from soil testing to sorbent selection, bench trials to soil blending and finally validation. The speakers will highlighting key learnings along the way that will ensure the common pitfalls and misconceptions are dismissed and confidence is instilled in those who plan to engage in immobilisation projects in the future by means of a high-level understanding of the full project process.

Richard Stewart
Managing Director
Rembind

Richard is the Founder and Managing Director of RemBind and has more than 25 years of experience in hazardous waste remediation. Since 2013, Richard has been involved in the development and application of sorbents for the immobilization of PFAS contaminants in soil. His project experience from Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand spans a wide range of sorbents and soil mixing options. He holds a PhD from the University of Adelaide and postgraduate qualifications in technology commercialisation from the University of Texas.

Mubiana Matakala
Project Manager
ADE Consulting Group

A qualified Civil and Environmental Engineer with a commitment to considering both the short and long-term sustainability of projects. Mubi puts to use his civil and residential construction and mine site experience to pilot large remediation works and full scale trials to achieve successful treatment outcomes. Mubi adapts the requirements of boutique treatment and remediation projects with a strong focus on process optimisation and safety. Mubi takes a practical outlook to delivering large treatment and remediation projects and leverages a comprehensive understanding of quality control and compliance in relation to treatment works, but also any associated engineering plans, specifications and construction standards.

Matthew Askeland
Unit Manager
ADE Consulting Group

Matthew Askeland presently heads ADE's Consulting Groups Emerging Contaminants, Treatment Remediation and Research (ECTRR) business unit. Matthew has been active in the consultancy sector as a contaminated site specialist, where he holds key expertise pivotal in the delivery of contaminated land and water solutions, including site characterisation, risk assessment and remediation. Over the past number of years Matthew has been focused on tackling multiple elements within the PFAS risk management practice. These include site characterisation, risk mitigation, development and implementation of new PFAS management tools (treatment technologies and analytical tools), and the deployment of effective management strategies for both legacy and ongoing PFAS impacts.

Shervin Kabiri
Research Assistant
University of Adelaide

Shervin Kabiri is a Research Fellow at the University of Adelaide. Her research focuses on understanding emerging contaminant (e.g. PFAS) fate and transport in soil, their immobilisation in soil and understanding the longevity of their immobilisation, understanding the effect of sorbent properties on PFAS removal from different matrixes, and designing new sorbents for PFAS remediation in water and soil. Her work in the area of persistent chemicals is very well recognised in Australia which has brought lots of opportunities and created collaborations with industry and other research groups nationally and internationally.

Andrew Mitchell
National Practice Lead
ADE Consulting Group

Andrew is an environmental engineer with a master’s in public policy and over 25 years’ experience in contaminated land including with the 2000 Olympics, the NSW EPA, and the Defence PFAS program. His diverse experience has helped him to understand the different perspectives and drivers of regulators, land managers, industry, and consultants. He currently leads the national environment business in ADE Consulting Group.

Alison Price
Managing Director
Soilcyclers

Alison Price is the founder and Managing Director of SoilCyclers, mobile soil recycling, decontamination, amelioration and waste reduction contractors working across the construction, waste and mining industries. SoilCyclers is on a mission to create a bigger future with a smaller footprint by transforming waste into safe, reusable materials.

Each year, Alison oversees recycling projects on more than 50 sites, recycling up to half a million cubic metres of material, saving clients more than $5 million, taking almost 30,000 truckloads off local roads and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by around 6000 tons. Alison is also a Director of Austmine, EnviroMETS (Qld) Ltd and the Infrastructure Sustainability Council. Alison is the 2020 Australasian Awardee for the WE Empower UN Sustainable Development Goals Challenge. She also received Silver in the 2020 ROAR Awards for Best Eco Product. SoilCyclers has received numerous other awards including:

• Winner Queensland Mining Awards Environment Award and Overall Queensland Mining Contractor of theYear 2022
• Top 10 Finalist BHP Tailings Challenge
• Winner Best Waste Reduction and Landfill Mining Company - Australia at the fifth annual CV Small Business Awards
• Winner 2020 Queensland Major Contractors Association Ian Harrington
• Award for Collaboration (Fulton Hogan Seymour Whyte JV and SoilCyclers)