Perma-Fix Expands PFAS Treatment Operations to Meet Growing Demand

Rhea-AI Summary

Perma-Fix Environmental Services (NASDAQ: PESI) reported significant progress in its PFAS treatment operations. The company's 1,000-gallon PFAS Destruction Reactor at Perma-Fix of Florida has demonstrated exceptional results in commercial full-scale treatment during Q4 2024, successfully processing various carbon-fluorine chains at efficient temperatures.

The company is actively engaging with waste generators and disposal firms, particularly those managing Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) and foam fractionator's waste. Perma-Fix is in advanced discussions for strategic partnerships to secure large volumes of concentrated PFAS waste.

Additionally, Perma-Fix is developing a second-generation treatment unit with triple the capacity of the current system, expected to be operational later in 2025. The company is also expanding its research to treat granular activated carbon (GAC) and contaminated soils, addressing growing remediation needs.

Positive

• Successfully demonstrated commercial-scale PFAS destruction capability
• Advanced discussions for strategic partnerships to secure large waste volumes
• Developing 3x capacity second-generation treatment unit
• Technology shows cost advantages over alternatives like incineration
• Expanding treatment capabilities to include GAC and contaminated soils

Negative

• None.

Insights

Environmental Technology Analyst

The commercial validation of Perma-Fix's PFAS destruction technology marks a pivotal moment in the $89 billion environmental services market. The successful deployment of their 1,000-gallon reactor represents a significant competitive advantage in the rapidly growing PFAS remediation sector.

Three key aspects make this development particularly impactful for investors:

• The technology's ability to process high concentrations of PFAS waste efficiently creates a substantial cost advantage over traditional methods like incineration, positioning Perma-Fix to capture significant market share in the industrial waste treatment sector.
• The planned tripling of capacity with the second-generation unit indicates strong market demand and suggests potential for accelerated revenue growth. This expansion, combined with the ability to recycle treatment reagents, should drive improved operational margins.
• The expansion into GAC and contaminated soils treatment opens up new revenue streams in the remediation market, particularly valuable as regulatory pressure on PFAS contamination intensifies.

The strategic partnerships under discussion could provide steady, high-volume waste streams, creating predictable recurring revenue. This is particularly significant as industries face increasing regulatory pressure to address PFAS contamination, with the EPA's aggressive stance on PFAS regulation creating a robust market tailwind.

The technology's demonstrated effectiveness in destroying various carbon-fluorine chains at efficient temperatures creates a meaningful barrier to entry, while the ability to recycle treatment reagents provides a sustainable competitive advantage in operational costs. The expansion into new treatment areas (GAC and soils) further strengthens the company's market position by offering comprehensive solutions to waste generators and disposal firms.

ATLANTA, Feb. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: PESI) (the “Company” or “Perma-Fix”) today provided an update on the progress and advancements in its proprietary PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) treatment technology, Perma-FAS. In Q4 2024, Perma-Fix initiated commercial full-scale treatment with its 1,000 gallon PFAS Destruction Reactor located at the Perma-Fix of Florida site. After several months of continuous operation, treating commercial PFAS-contaminated waste, the system has delivered exceptional results, confirming its effectiveness in PFAS destruction.

Perma-Fix’s technology is successfully processing and eliminating various types of carbon-fluorine chains at operationally efficient temperatures. Extensive testing, including laboratory and pilot studies, has been validated in full-scale operations, demonstrating high levels of PFAS destruction. The system has also supported multiple demonstrations, leading to refinements that improve operability and cost-effectiveness.

As demand for effective PFAS destruction treatment grows, Perma-Fix is actively working with waste generators and disposal firms, particularly those managing Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (“AFFF”) and foam fractionator’s waste. In addition to the Company’s own customers, Perma-Fix is engaged in advanced discussions with several firms to establish strategic partnerships that are expected to generate a steady flow of large volumes of concentrated PFAS waste.

The increasing regulatory focus on PFAS contamination is driving market demand for PFAS destruction treatment solutions that limit future environmental liability. Perma-Fix is well-positioned to serve a diverse customer base, such as landfill owners, industrial facilities, and the oil and gas sector, including customers with concentrated PFAS waste from foam fractionation systems. The system's ability to process high concentrations of PFAS waste efficiently provides significant cost savings and operational benefits versus current alternatives such as incineration and super critical water oxidation.

In parallel with the launch of our high concentration liquids treatment system, the Company is accelerating its research focus to apply its technology to provide effective treatment solutions for granular activated carbon (“GAC”) and contaminated soils, meeting the growing need for remediation services.

Simultaneously, Perma-Fix is advancing the development of its second-generation treatment unit. This unit is projected to be three times the capacity of the current system, significantly increasing throughput and revenue potential while improving operational efficiency. The Company expects the new treatment unit to be operational later this year.

Mark Duff, CEO of Perma-Fix: "Our technology has now proven its ability to destroy PFAS contaminants at an impressive scale. We've treated thousands of gallons of commercial waste, demonstrating not only the effectiveness of our approach but also its economic viability. This reinforces our confidence that Perma-Fix is at the forefront of PFAS treatment solutions. As we continue expanding operations, our ability to scale efficiently while maintaining cost-effectiveness remains critical. With ongoing refinements, we are committed to ensuring our technology remains the top choice for industries facing PFAS contamination challenges."

Lou Centofanti, Founder and Executive Vice President of Perma-Fix: "We are witnessing growing demand from waste generators and disposal firms looking for an effective, scalable, and cost-efficient PFAS destruction treatment. Our technology stands apart due to its efficiency and level of PFAS destruction, exceeding the performance of traditional methods. We have already demonstrated industry-leading destruction efficacy, and as we continue refining our system, including our ability to recycle treatment reagents, we remain focused on delivering even greater operational efficiency. The need for sustainable and economically viable PFAS solutions is rising, and Perma-Fix is well-positioned to meet this challenge with our technologies."

About Perma-Fix Environmental Services
Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. is a nuclear services company and leading provider of environmental remediation and mixed waste management services. The Company's nuclear waste services include management and treatment of radioactive and mixed waste for hospitals, research labs and institutions, federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”), the Department of Defense (“DOD”), and the commercial nuclear industry. The Company’s nuclear services group provides project management, waste management, environmental remediation, decontamination and decommissioning, demolition, and radiological protection, safety and industrial hygiene capability to our clients. The Company operates four nuclear waste treatment facilities and provides nuclear services at DOE, DOD, and commercial facilities nationwide.

Please visit us at http://www.perma-fix.com.

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” which are based largely on the Company's expectations and are subject to various business risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking statements generally are identifiable by use of the words such as “believe”, “expects”, “intends”, “anticipate”, “plans to”, “estimates”, “projects”, and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: establish strategic partnerships that are expected to generate a steady flow of PFAS waste; well-positioned to serve a diverse customer base; new treatment unit to be operational later this year; and well-positioned to meet sustainable and economically viable PFAS solution with our technology. These forward-looking statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While the Company believes the expectations reflected in this news release are reasonable, it can give no assurance such expectations will prove to be correct. There are a variety of factors which could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those described in this release, including, without limitation, future economic conditions; industry conditions; competitive pressures; our ability to apply and market our new technologies; the government or such other party to a contract granted to us fails to abide by or comply with the contract or to deliver waste as anticipated under the contract or terminates existing contracts; Congress fails to provides funding for the DOD’s and DOE’s remediation projects; inability to obtain new foreign and domestic remediation contracts; acceptance of our technology; and the additional factors referred to under “Risk Factors” and "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" of our 2023 Form 10-K and Form 10-Qs for quarters ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024. The Company makes no commitment to disclose any revisions to forward-looking statements, or any facts, events or circumstances after the date hereof that bear upon forward-looking statements.

Contacts:
David K. Waldman-US Investor Relations
Crescendo Communications, LLC
(212) 671-1021

Herbert Strauss- European Investor Relations
herbert@eu-ir.com
+43 316 296 316

FAQ

What progress has PESI made in PFAS treatment during Q4 2024?

PESI initiated commercial full-scale treatment with its 1,000-gallon PFAS Destruction Reactor, demonstrating successful processing of various carbon-fluorine chains at efficient temperatures.

When will PESI's new second-generation PFAS treatment unit be operational?

The new treatment unit, with triple the capacity of the current system, is expected to be operational later in 2025.

What types of waste can PESI's PFAS treatment technology process?

The technology can process AFFF (Aqueous Film-Forming Foam), foam fractionator's waste, and is expanding to treat granular activated carbon (GAC) and contaminated soils.

How does PESI's PFAS treatment compare to traditional methods?

PESI's technology provides significant cost savings and operational benefits compared to alternatives such as incineration and super critical water oxidation.

What new markets is PESI targeting with its PFAS treatment technology?

PESI is targeting landfill owners, industrial facilities, and the oil and gas sector, particularly customers with concentrated PFAS waste from foam fractionation systems.