Breakthrough Partnership Between Ovivo and Evocra to Accelerate PFAS Removal and Destruction Solutions Across North America

June 11^th, 2024

Ovivo Inc. (“Ovivo”), a global provider of water and wastewater treatment equipment, technologies, and systems has entered into an exclusive license agreement, through its subsidiary Ovivo USA, LLC, with Evocra, an Australian-based company, to offer their commercial ozone foam fractionation process to the water treatment market to remove Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (“PFAS”), commonly called “forever chemicals”.

Following Ovivo’s strategic acquisition of E2metrix in February 2024, including its innovative and clean electrochemical oxidation technology for onsite PFAS destruction, the addition of Evocra’s patented ozone foam fractionation technology strengthens Ovivo’s innovative and integrated PFAS solution. With its extensive footprint in the water treatment market, Ovivo is well-positioned to manufacture and commercialize the combined technologies on the large scale needed to address the extensive PFAS contamination found in our environment.

PFAS have been of growing concern due to their mobility, persistence, and widespread presence in the environment as their harmful health and environmental effects have become better understood. In fact, PFAS chemistry dates back to the late 1930s, with widespread commercial use starting in the 1950s. These chemicals have found their way into numerous consumer and industrial products, spanning sectors such as aerospace, electronics, automotive, and household goods including stain-resistant carpets, nonstick cookware, firefighting foams, and food packaging products. Subsequently, over decades, PFAS have migrated into our soil and water supplies.

In March 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“US EPA”) finalized a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) establishing enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (“MCLs”) for six (6) PFAS and subsequently designated two (2) PFAS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”). These new rules will require massive infrastructure investment including at water and wastewater plants, industrial facilities, and aerospace locations. As a result, Ovivo has developed innovative solutions to treat PFAS-contaminated waters while reducing or eliminating the generation of PFAS-contaminated waste that current resin-only technologies produce.

It has become widely recognized that, specifically in municipal applications, a cost-effective and sustainable solution to address PFAS contamination will require a removal and concentration process before destruction. This is due to the low but significant environmental levels of PFAS found in surface waters and groundwater that cannot economically be destroyed with current destructive technologies alone. The addition of Evocra’s patented ozone foam fractionation process for PFAS removal and concentration, followed by Ovivo’s electro-oxidation destruction process added to Ovivo’s portfolio by the E2metrix acquisition, allows for economic destruction to be achieved on-site while meeting new regulatory standards.

Over the last several months, Ovivo has been piloting a combined ozone foam fractionation and electrochemical oxidation solution in Alabama, USA that meets new regulatory requirements while reducing PFAS waste streams generated onsite. Demonstration of the integrated solution has delivered impressive results with ozone foam fractionation achieving over 90% removal of all regulated PFAS compounds in the reverse osmosis concentrate and over 85% reduction of total detectable PFAS through electrochemical oxidation of the foamate generated. Additionally, studies by Ovivo on multiple landfill leachates have shown over 99.9% destruction of total detectable PFAS with its electrochemical oxidation technology on a concentrated PFAS waste generated with Evocra’s process. Ongoing work continues to improve removal and energy efficiencies, reducing or eliminating hazardous waste generation and allowing stakeholders to break free from these “forever chemicals”.

“With their patented use of ozone in addition to air, Evocra’s engineers have taken the PFAS removal and concentration process to the next level over other foam fractionation processes, especially relating to the removal and concentration of the often-hidden precursors. We believe that the remedy to the PFAS crisis should be focused on easy-to-implement, on-site technologies that don’t just pass the problem along but eliminate PFAS for future generations. We’re looking forward to a long partnership between our two organizations”, says Tom Leland, Managing Director of Industrial and PFAS Solutions, North America, of Ovivo.

“We found the ideal partner in Ovivo, a company that shares our vision, culture, and passion for making a positive impact in the world of water restoration. Ovivo brings to the table their expertise and ability to manufacture the system at a scale that will expand the application of the technology beyond remedial clean-ups and landfill leachate treatment, allowing rapid expansion into the North American market,’’ said David Solomon, CEO of Evocra.

Previously, Evocra’s license for North America was held by Arcadis, a leading global design and consultancy organization for natural and built assets. Arcadis advanced the ozone foam fractionation technology through piloting with their North American clients.  Arcadis will continue to hold a license with Evocra in countries outside of the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and will remain active in developing PFAS solutions, including ozone foam fractionation, worldwide.

Ovivo is committed to developing a toolbox of sustainable solutions to assist its clients in addressing PFAS contamination in our environment.  With our efforts to date and our ongoing commitment to our role as a technology leader, we see a PFAS-free future ahead.

About Ovivo Inc.

Ovivo is a global provider of equipment, technology and systems producing among the purest water and treating some of the most challenging wastewater in the industry. Ovivo is a powerful global brand with renowned trademarks, possessing more than 150 years of expertise and references in water treatment, supported by its proprietary products, advanced technologies and extensive system integration knowhow. Ovivo delivers conventional to highly technological water treatment solutions for the industrial and municipal markets and leverages its large installed base of equipment around the world to offer parts and services to its customers. Ovivo is dedicated to innovation in an industry that is in constant evolution and offers water treatment solutions that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable.

Headquartered in Montréal, Canada, Ovivo operates an integrated global platform in 18 countries and employs more than 1,400 worldwide experts in water treatment. Ovivo is owned by German SKion Water GmbH, a global technology and solution provider as well as plant manufacturer, in both municipal and industrial water and wastewater technology. SKion Water is a subsidiary of German entrepreneur Susanne Klatten’s investment holding SKion GmbH.

For more information about Ovivo, visit: https://www.ovivowater.com.

For more information about Ovivo’s PFAS Solutions, visit: https://pfas.ovivowater.com

About Evocra

Evocra is an Australian-based technology company specializing in the design, development, and commercialization of intelligent cost-effective solutions for difficult water treatment challenges. Evocra’s patented foam fractionation technology – Ozofractionative Catalysed Reagent Addition (OCRA) – was developed to solve a challenging acid mine drainage (AMD) problem in an ecologically sensitive wilderness area. A flexible and versatile technology, OCRA has since been proven to be highly effective in treating a wide range of contaminants, including the removal of PFAS from complex contaminated waters, such as industrial sewage, saline surface waters, fire training ground runoff, liquid waste, and landfill leachate. The process was first deployed commercially in 2011, with its first installation for PFAS treatment in 2017. Evocra has granted patents and patent applications in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

For more information about Evocra, visit: evocra.com.au

FOR INFORMATION

Katie Henderson
Product Group Manager, PFAS Solutions
Tel: +1 (801) 946-0206
katie.henderson@ovivowater.com