Challenge

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges (POAB) is confronted with the PFAS issue during infrastructure works in the port. On the basis of current data, PFAS seems to be globally/diffusely spread over the Antwerp port area in soil and water, which means that any concessionaire or any partner wishing to carry out infrastructure works will or will not be confronted with the PFAS problem.

More specifically, during (dry and wet) earthmoving works, a very large quantity (millions of m³) of drainage water contaminated with PFAS is also released. This water concerns both contaminated groundwater and contaminated water from the Scheldt and dock (added as transport water during dredging work). However, this water may not be discharged again into the same docks/Scheldt without prior purification.

Existing purification techniques focus mainly on long-chain PFAS and require enormous amounts of activated carbon. In the port of Antwerp, however, short-chain PFAS pollution occurs mainly. The PIO project aims to find suitable purification techniques for the drainage water.