Technology Innovation News Survey

U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 697DCK Regional Acquisitions Services, Fort Worth, TX
Opportunities on SAM.gov 697DCK-26-R-00430, 2026

This is a presolicitation notice and request for information from small businesses under NAICS code 562910. The FAA is seeking capability statements from interested small businesses capable of providing engineering services to support remedial investigation (RI) and remedial action (RA) activities at 16 Areas of Concern within the FAA Environmental Cleanup Program at the former FAA Station on Annette Island Reserve, AK, which is under the authority of the Metlakatla Indian Community (MIC). Interested vendors must have experience in the last 10 years with the regulations of the MIC Environmental Council, working within the MIC policies for worker and business permits, and materials purchase. Work will include vegetation clearing; excavation and off-island disposal of petroleum-contaminated peat and soil; excavation confirmation sampling and lab analysis; delineation of petroleum contamination; and other RI/RA activities necessary to address petroleum contamination at the sites. Contamination is primarily present within the upper 1-2 ft of the AOCs, including within saturated peat and the upper portion of the underlying clay layer. The Contractor should anticipate heavy vegetation and possible old-growth trees and must coordinate with FAA and MIC to identify and protect important old-growth specimens. GPS and telecommunications services are unavailable in many areas, so contractors should plan for alternative communications and navigation capabilities. Sample-shipping and lab logistical challenges due to weather, air and ferry schedules, freight office closures, staffing limitations, and potential analytical issues associated with organic matrices and holding times may also be issues. All excavation backfill material must be purchased from MIC, and organic materials, including seed mixes, cannot be brought onto the island. Failure to respond to this presolicitation notice will preclude a contractor from receiving a copy of the future solicitation. Capability statements are due by 12:00 PM CDT on September 21, 2026. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/a144e233732f4507b1083c3cbd7aa6fc/view

Opportunities on SAM.gov W912HN26S1001, 2026
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Atlantic Engineer Division (USACE), Savannah District, Savannah, GA

This is a sources sought notice for market research purposes only under NAICS code 562910. The USACE Savannah District, requests that firms interested in its Optimized Remediation Contract or environmental remediation activities at Robins Air Force Base (AFB) and Moody AFB, Georgia, review the Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) and provide responses through an online survey. The draft PWS describes the environmental services required to conduct remediation under the ORC, including investigation, remedial design, construction of remedial systems, operation and maintenance of established remedies, optimization of applicable remedies, and achievement of site-specific objectives. The Contractor will perform environmental remediation activities to achieve defined Performance Objectives at 26 Installation Restoration Program sites and one Military Munitions Response Program site that does not involve unexploded ordnance. The survey link can be found in the Sam.gov citation link below. Survey responses are due by 5:00 PM EDT on October 9, 2026. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/ebc28960bf3143aabed6a7dce36a7880/view

Environmental Protection Agency
Funding Opportunity EPA-OLEM-OBLR-26-01, 2026

This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible entities to deliver Brownfields Job Training programs that recruit, train, and place local, unemployed, and underemployed residents with the skills needed to secure full-time employment in the environmental field. Brownfields Job Training Grants fund training programs that strengthen local workforces by preparing program graduates for environmental jobs that support cleanup and revitalization efforts in their own communities. Training may include a range of brownfield-related environmental skills such as the assessment and cleanup of solid and hazardous waste; chemical risk management; stormwater management relating to site cleanup; planning and site preparation for low-impact development activities; site preparation for green infrastructure installation; and vulnerability assessment and contamination mitigation planning. EPA urges applicants to review the FAQs, which can be found at https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/frequently-asked-questions-about-brownfields-job-training-jt-grants. It is anticipated that up to 20 awards will be made under this announcement. The amount of funding is expected to be $5,000,000 - $6,000,000, depending on Agency funding levels, the quality of applications received, agency priorities, and other applicable considerations. Individual awards funded under this opportunity are expected to be for up to $300,000, and have up to a 3-year project period. Applicants may apply for up to $300,000 of EPA funds. The closing date and time for receipt of applications is September 23, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET. Https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/acbefb46-056e-4d99-977d-c335039d5d59

Fuller, A. | NEWMOA 2026 Northeast Conference on the Science of PFAS: Public Health & The Environment, 14-16 April, Worchester, MA, 18 slides, 2026

This case study chronicles investigation and mitigation activities conducted over ten years and examines the challenges associated with managing a large-scale PFAS release originating from air emissions. The investigation spans a broad geographic area characterized by multiple geologic settings, numerous potentially impacted receptors, changing PFAS formulations and emissions over decades of facility operations, potential precursor transformation, and co-mingled contaminant plumes. Response actions have included private well and public water supply sampling, bottled water, point-of-use treatment systems, point-of-entry treatment systems, and municipal water connections. The presentation also examines how the regulatory and technical response evolved alongside the site investigation. Since PFAS were first identified, New Hampshire and federal drinking water standards have changed substantially, while new soil and surface water criteria have further expanded the scope of contaminated site management. The facility's installation of additional emission controls, subsequent closure in 2023, and demolition in 2025 represent another transition in the site's lifecycle, shifting attention toward long-term environmental monitoring, groundwater management, remedial action planning, and the investigation of additional sources and disputed areas. The presentation highlights the importance of adaptable conceptual site models, coordinated multi-media investigations, rapid protection of drinking water receptors, and sustained communication among regulatory agencies, municipalities, responsible parties, and affected communities. The lessons learned from Merrimack provide a framework for managing large-scale PFAS releases where contaminant sources, exposure pathways, regulatory standards, and scientific understanding continue to evolve during investigation and remediation. Https://www.newmoa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2C_2_Fuller.pdf

Bani, B. C.S. Morder, and T. Tan. Battelle 2026 Chlorinated Conference, 31 May-4 June, Fort Worth, TX, abstract only, 2026

A full-scale hybrid remediation program was conducted at a commercial airport's former Fire Fighting Training Area, combining excavation with in situ soil mixing using RemBind100X to address PFAS contamination from historical AFFF use. PFOS was the dominant contaminant across all media, with soil impacts in the top 2 m and sitewide groundwater contamination above drinking water criteria, driven largely by an offsite drinking water use pathway. Treatability studies compared RemBind100X against FluoroSorb® 200 and GAC for soil stabilization. At 1% dosing, RemBind100X reduced PFAS in leachate by 99.6%, outperforming GAC (88.4%) and matching FluoroSorb® 200 (100%). The selected remedy combined excavation of PFOS-impacted soil exceeding 10 times the 0.01 µg/g guideline with in situ mixing of RemBind100X into the remaining 0.5 m of excavation floor to treat residual PFAS in saturated soil and groundwater. The project removed 26,000 MT of PFAS-contaminated soil and mixed 5,000 MT of RemBind100X into the excavation floor, achieving 71% removal or stabilization of PFOS above the 0.01 µg/g threshold and exceeding the project's 70% target. Post-treatment soil leachate testing showed PFOS and other PFAS consistently below detection limits at RemBind100X-treated locations, compared to 1.011 µg/L sum PFAS in untreated baseline samples. Groundwater monitoring showed dramatic reductions in PFAS concentrations across multiple wells, with ΣPFAS dropping from 56-58 µg/L pre-remediation to as low as 0.02-0.34 µg/L post-remediation in several locations. The project demonstrates that combining excavation/disposal with in situ stabilization can effectively reduce PFAS source mass and groundwater migration while preserving soil permeability, supporting hybrid remediation as a scalable approach for PFAS-impacted sites. More information https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZXerwSBTiI

Soos, L. Northeast Waste Management Officials Association (NEWMOA) Remediation Strategies Workshop, New London, CT, 12 November, 60 minutes, 2025

This presentation examines the application of electrical resistance heating (ERH) and thermal conduction heating (TCH) across a range of challenging remediation settings. Field projects demonstrate how thermal technologies have been adapted for treatment beneath active infrastructure, wetlands and railroad corridors, and deep bedrock. At one site, ERH achieved ~99.9% reduction in TCE concentrations within a 90-ft sandstone sequence, while a TCH project targeting ~300 pounds of TCE recovered more than four times the anticipated contaminant mass. These projects illustrate the ability of thermal remediation to overcome limitations associated with contaminant distribution, access, and difficult subsurface geology while achieving rapid source-zone mass removal. The presentation also highlights the emerging application of high-temperature TCH for PFAS-contaminated soil. Bench testing demonstrated limited PFAS removal at 100-150°C, increasing removal at 300°C, and ~99.9% reduction at 350°C, with targeted compounds reaching non-detect concentrations at 400°C. Findings supported field demonstrations culminating in treatment of ~2,000 cubic yards of PFAS-impacted soil at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Following treatment, targeted PFAS were below detection in composite samples and in all 30 discrete soil samples except for three trace, J-qualified analytes. Importantly, the PFAS application represents thermal desorption and volatilization with subsequent capture, rather than destruction, emphasizing the importance of downstream management of recovered PFAS. Collectively, these projects demonstrate how advances in heat delivery, subsurface modeling, and vapor capture are expanding thermal remediation from a proven source-zone remedy for VOCs into an emerging approach for some of the most persistent contaminants encountered at complex contaminated sites.
YouTube recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur5-Dfe0SnA
Slides: https://www.newmoa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Thermal.Soos_.pdf

Liu, W., S. Wang, Q. Zhao, P. Yu, Z. Guo, H. Xie, J. Zhang, and Z. Hu.
Journal of Water Process Engineering 79:109024(2025)

A field-scale constructed wetland (CW) study investigated the removal efficiency, distribution, and ecological risks of PFAS. Removal efficiencies of PFAS ranged from 38.46% to 63.68%. Six PFAS were detected in water samples, while four PFAS were detected in sediment samples. Among these, GenX and PFOA were detected as the most abundant individual PFAS in water and sediments, with maximum concentrations of 13.30 × 10³ ng/L and 1.52 × 10³ ng/g, respectively. GenX predominantly partitioned into water, which was controlled by the electrical conductivity (p < 0.05). PFOA primarily partitioned into sediments, which was controlled by the pH, total organic carbon, and oxidation-reduction potential (p < 0.05). The assessment of ecological risks of the CW demonstrated that it effectively reduced the high ecological risks posed by GenX, PFOS, and PFOA to aquatic organisms by 38.37 ± 1.37 %, 27.89 ± 4.42 %, and 35.20 ± 8.95 %, respectively.

Jurasingani, P., R. Arnseth, J. Davis, and J. Meegoda.
Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation 46(3):25-37(2026)

A field demonstration was conducted at a DOD site in Nebraska where PFAS-impacted groundwater was pumped into a mobile ultrasound treatment trailer, and PFAS were desorbed and degraded by localized cavitation at high pressures and temperatures. The degradation efficiency ranged from 68-91%. The average long-chain PFAS degradation was 90% compared to 78% for short-chain PFAS, while for PFAS precursors, degradation was 76%. The average decrease in measured adsorbable organic fluorine after treatment was 63%, indicating destroyed PFAS were likely being mineralized without the formation of excess by-products. Overall, the ultrasonic treatment methodology demonstrated the ability to treat highly contaminated groundwater in source zones, upstream of sensitive environments or resources.

Eldridge, M., J. LaFond, M. Vavra, G. Lavorgna, D. Lippincott, P. Hatzinger, J. Guelfo, T. Anderson, and W.A. Jackson. Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation 46(3):38-54 (2026)

A high-resolution passive profiler (HRPP) was adapted to evaluate PFAS in a shallow (<5 ft. to water) aquifer at a site with historical AFFF contamination. A discrete-depth groundwater sampling system was used to obtain groundwater samples from specified depths (taken within 5 ft. of the HRPP installation locations) to compare to depth-specific concentrations produced from the HRPP. Continuous cores were obtained from each HRPP installation location and HRPP were direct pushed into the borehole created during soil coring. Soil cores were field logged for soil texture. Five sets of HRPP strings ranging from 4 to 25 ft bgs were deployed and left to equilibrate for 28 d. HRPP Geoprobe® Screen Point Sampling System (SP16)-enabled discrete well samples were analyzed for concentrations of Cl^-, Br ^-, and SO₄^{2 -} and subjected to PFAS target and suspect screening. Porewater concentration distributions of anions and targeted PFAS produced by the HRPP and SP16 methods were highly similar. Significant correlations were found at all sites with an r² of 0.76 for 23 targeted species quantified in both sample types (P < < 0.01, n = 1386). HRPPs and paired SP16 targeted PFAS concentrations matched with 60%, within a factor of 2, and 88% within a factor of 5. Some concentration distribution features captured by the HRPP were not captured by the SP16 samples due to a lack of resolution. Steep concentration gradients at the capillary fringe and other features around low permeability zones also were not accurately quantified by the SP16 but were captured by the HRPP. Anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic suspect screening species were correlated in paired depth HRPP and SP16 samples (P < < 0.01; n = 256 for anions, n = 258 for zwitterions, n = 188 for cations), although with anions the SP16 concentrations were generally higher. Overall, 29% of paired anion concentrations were within a factor of 2 and 85% within a factor of 5. These values were 38% and 89% for zwitterions, and 42% and 78% for cations, respectively. Https://ngwa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gwmr.70050

Zhao, X., H. Xu, Z. Zhang, Y. Zhao, X. Liu, C. Lin, M. He, and W. Ouyang.
Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 14(3):122313(2026)

This study established a horizontal planetary ball mill system (up to 250 kg capacity), integrated with pretreatment, feeding and dust control units, for treating PCB (4,391.80 mg/kg) and HCH (655.87 mg/kg)-contaminated soil classified as hazardous waste. Optimal soil treatment capacity and practicable additive mass ratios were determined through commissioning. Additive-free milling led to poor degradation and possible caking. Iron powder improved soil dispersion but did not enhance degradation. In contrast, combining 10 wt% CaO and 1 wt% NaOH mitigated the sole NaOH-induced caking and as revealed by correlation analysis, demonstrated a synergistic effect by combining NaOH-driven rapid base-hydrolysis with CaO-mediated sustained reductive degradation via mechanically induced free electrons. This process significantly enhanced degradation efficiencies (76.2% removal for PCBs and 97.6% for HCHs) after 60 min milling, outperforming the use of CaO alone. Although additives negatively altered soil properties, environmental management measures, potential functional recovery, and compatibility with other technologies were noted. Both dioxin and dust pollution were controllable but still required further consideration. Under these optimal conditions, the variable cost was $101.4/m³ (energy: $64.7/m³ + reagents: $36.7/m³), confirming economic viability. A practical manual and future directions are provided in the publication.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Superfund Research Program, August 2026

SRP-funded researchers developed a new strategy to effectively break down 1,4-dioxane in water. A novel material was created using a cobalt-based catalyst, then baked at a high temperature followed by rapid cooling to produce a strong glassy finish. The glazed catalyst maintained strong and efficient oxidation performance while significantly improving stability and reducing the release of cobalt from the catalyst compared to an unglazed catalyst. In batch tests, the material removed ~65% of 1,4-dioxane in 15 minutes and maintained 96% removal efficiency after five consecutive treatment cycles. The team explored performance in a flow-through membrane system that mimics continuous water treatment used in large-scale wastewater treatment plants. The glazed material achieved up to 100% removal of 1,4-dioxane within ~19 minutes of contact time, though removal decreased with higher water flow rates. Under lower water flow, the material maintained 100% removal through continuous operation over 100 hours with minimal cobalt leaching. The study also tested the applicability of the material under more natural conditions found in wastewater and in a packed-bed column. The glazed material demonstrated enhanced oxidant use while maintaining 1,4-dioxane degradation. The glazed material shifted the chemical reaction away from traditional radical formation, promoting the movement of electrons from pollutants directly to the oxidant, and triggering the necessary reactions that break contaminants down into less harmful compounds. The glazed catalyst activated the oxidant to produce a nonradical reactive singlet oxygen that reacts with certain organic contaminants that are electron rich and thus more readily transfer electrons to the oxidant. This mechanism was illustrated when testing the material in degrading a range of other organic pollutants. All pollutants were degraded, but high removal efficiencies were reported for electron-rich contaminants, while removal efficiencies were much lower for electron-poor compounds. Https://tools.niehs.nih.gov/srp/researchbriefs/view.cfm?Brief_ID=376

Chauhan, A., X. Xu, and A. Pathak. U.S. Department of Energy DE-FE0032198, 72 pp, 2026

This project integrated environmental chemistry, microbial ecology, artificial intelligence (AI), and bioremediation into a comprehensive framework for environmental diagnostics and restoration of contaminated soil. The goal was to develop innovative biomonitoring and remediation strategies for heavy metal-contaminated coal combustion product (CCP) impoundment sites at the Savannah River Site (SRS). The project sought to characterize heavy metal contamination; determine microbial responses to contamination; isolate indigenous heavy metal-resistant microorganisms for remediation applications; develop a microbial ecological health index using machine learning; and optimize fungal-mediated bioremediation using artificial intelligence. The study demonstrates that microbial communities serve as sensitive indicators of ecosystem health, that indigenous fungal populations possess significant potential for heavy metal remediation, and that artificial intelligence can substantially improve both environmental diagnostics and remediation optimization. The microbial ecological health index and AI-assisted remediation framework developed through this project provide innovative tools that can support future environmental monitoring, restoration, and decision-making at the SRS and other contaminated ecosystems. Https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/3382450

Yang, H., M.M. Lorah, K.S. Bender, C. Xia, J. Sun, and J. Liu.
Journal of Water Process Engineering 89:110325(2026)

A two-chambered bioelectrochemical system (BES) inoculated with the West Branch Consortium (WBC-2) was evaluated for PFAS remediation. The BES with active WBC-2 achieved >99.0% PFOS removal within 21 days in deionized water with culture medium and > 98.9% removal of PFOS, PFOA, PFHxA, and PFHxS in contaminated groundwater under an applied cathodic potential of -450 mV (versus Ag/AgCl) after 102 days. Intermediate formation (e.g., PFOA, 6:2 FTS, PFPrA, PFBA) and background-corrected fluoride release were consistent with PFOS transformation under anaerobic reducing conditions potentially involving defluorination. Following repeated PFOS spikes (100 µg/L on Days 0, 50, and 399), PFOA, PFPrA, and PFBA accumulated over 664 days. Despite being the dominant accumulated compound, PFOA accounted for <1.8% of the total spiked PFOS mass. Minimal PFOS transformation occurred in controls without active WBC-2, highlighting the importance of microbial metabolism. Biofilm analysis revealed dense colonization of rod-shaped bacteria on carbon fiber brushes. Enrichment of Bacillus, Agrobacterium, and other low-abundance taxa suggests selective adaptation to BES and PFAS conditions. Findings highlight BES driven by electrochemically stimulated microbial activity as a promising strategy for PFAS remediation. Https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214714426008834/pdfft?md5=d7ee1d729942179135151886bfbc205b&pid=1-s2.0-S2214714426008834-main.pdf

Jadhao, P., A. Khare, S.S., G.S. Kanade, A.R. Kumar, and S.Pal.
Langmuir 42(30)22251-22269(2026)

An integrated remediation strategy coupled surfactant-enhanced electrokinetic transport with perovskite-activated persulfate ISCO to overcome mass-transfer limitations during PCB degradation in soil. Tween 80 was used to mobilize hydrophobic PCBs through micellar solubilization, while CaMnO₃ served as an efficient perovskite catalyst for the activation of peroxydisulfate. The combined system significantly enhanced PCB removal compared with individual treatment processes, with the Tween 80-PDS-CaMnO₃ configuration exhibiting the highest removal efficiencies for representative congeners (PCB-18, PCB-28, PCB-52, PCB-138, and PCB-153). Sustained electroosmotic flow during the 7-day electrokinetic treatment promoted effective migration of oxidants and reactive species, improving oxidant delivery within the soil matrix. Mechanistic investigations, supported by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses, revealed that CaMnO₃ activates persulfate through a reversible Mn⁴⁺/Mn³⁺ redox cycle, while electron paramagnetic resonance confirmed the formation of SO₄^•- and •OH radicals as the dominant oxidizing species.

Liu, P., X. Li, M. Xiao, X. Yang, X. Li, and H. Zhang.
Scientific Reports 16:199789(2026)

The environmental impacts of remediating a chlorinated hydrocarbon-contaminated site using in situ chemical oxidation/reduction (ICOR), in situ thermal desorption (ISTD), and ex situ desorption (ED) were quantified using the Spreadsheet for Environmental Footprint Assessment (SEFA) and SiteWise™ tools. The project generated 100.02 t of air pollutant, 15,936.29 t CO₂ eq of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and required 8.085 × 10⁷ MJ of energy and 1.1 × 106 L of water. Energy use and GHG emissions were highest for ISTD and lowest for ED, with ICOR showing intermediate values. Per cubic meter of treated soil, energy use and GHG emissions were 607.06 MJ/m³ and 138.80 kg CO₂ eq/m m³ for ISTD, 289.40 MJ/m m³ and 31.35 kg CO₂ eq/m m³ for ED, and 315.28 MJ/m m³ and 42.44 kg CO₂ eq/m m³ for ICOR. When normalized per unit pollutant removed, ISTD showed higher efficiency than ED and ICOR. Major contributors to energy use and GHG emissions included the heating processes in ISTD, barrier materials in ICOR, and remediation materials in ED and ICOR. Optimization measures include adding lateral insulation, adopting precision and moderate remediation schemes, and using renewable energy. This article is Open Access at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13320184/

Z. Li., J. Liang, J. Li, X. Ma, Y. Lang, H. Li, H. Qiu, X. Cao, L. Zhao.
Journal of Hazardous Materials 500:140382(2025)

A novel sequential strategy combined low-temperature thermal desorption (LTTD) to remove low-boiling-point organic contaminants and subsequent persulfate (PS) activation using residual heat to degrade residual non-volatile pollutants, achieving effective remediation of soil co-contaminated with wide-boiling-range organics. The degradation efficiencies of low-boiling-point n-undecane (C11), high-boiling-point n-eicosane (C20), and benzo[a]pyrene (BAP) were systematically compared between solely PS oxidation and the coupled LTTD-PS system. Results revealed that 8-h LTTD at 120°C achieved 74.33% removal of C11 and significantly reduced reactive SOM content. The coupled LTTD-PS system (0.9 mmol/g PS dosage, 8 h, 120°C) achieved 71.2% removal of C20 and complete elimination of BAP and C11. Unlike solely PS oxidation, the coupled system demonstrated dual benefits: thermal desorption removed volatile contaminants while simultaneously passivating reactive soil organic matter components, thereby minimizing radicals (SO₄^•⁻ and •OH) scavenging and enhancing subsequent PS activation efficiency.

Divine, C., T. Osorno, A. Goers, and K. White. Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation 46(3):12-20(2026)

This article examines complex groundwater remediation challenges from interactions of karst hydrogeology, PFAS, and microplastics. Conventional conceptual site models often rely on simplified assumptions about groundwater flow, contaminant transport, sorption, and attenuation that may not apply in highly heterogeneous karst systems or for persistent, chemically and physically diverse contaminants such as PFAS and microplastics. Karst environments can produce rapid and preferential groundwater transport through fractures, conduits, and other pathways, while PFAS and microplastics exhibit complex behaviors and interactions with sediments, organic matter, metals, pathogens, and other contaminants. These factors can produce contaminant behavior that cannot be adequately understood by evaluating individual processes in isolation. Effective characterization, monitoring, modeling, and remediating emerging contaminants require practitioners to recognize and account for the interconnected processes and feedback that govern contaminant fate and transport, rather than relying on overly simplified assumptions developed for more conventional groundwater systems.

McKnight, T., E. DiFilippo, B. Drollette, J. Duncan, D. Eberle, B. Flehmer, and A. Horn.
Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation 46(3):82-90(2026)

This paper is the first in a series on PFAS forensics that presents considerations for understanding and identifying source-specific PFAS signatures. Because different applications utilize distinct PFAS properties, the composition of PFAS, the potential for release and fate and transport in the environment will vary based on industry and consumer products. Information critical to understanding and identifying PFAS sources include source type(s) (i.e., primary vs. secondary), the manufacturing process, formulations used, how formulations may have changed over time, how PFAS or PFAS formulations were used or applied, relative magnitude of known or suspected releases and potential precursor transformation products. This information will help develop a source-specific signature that can then be compared to documented contamination. In addition, the widespread usage of PFAS across numerous products, materials, and industries has potentially created a large, non-attributable source of PFAS (i.e., anthropogenic background). As a result, an understanding of baseline or "background" PFAS levels in our environment may be needed in an environmental forensics analysis. The combined information of potential source-specific signatures and anthropogenic background are essential for making informed and defensible decisions on where, when and how PFAS contamination occurred. Https://ngwa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gwmr.70064

McKnight, T., E. DiFilippo, B. Drollette, J. Duncan, D. Eberle, B. Flehmer, and A. Horn.
Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation 46(3):91-100(2026)

This paper is the second in a series on PFAS forensics that presents some analytical and data analysis tools used to identify source-specific signatures and differentiate potential contamination sources. Advanced analytical approaches include indicator compound identification, isomer analysis, Total Oxidizable Precursors Assay, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Each technique can reveal different aspects of PFAS source characteristics, with the forensic value increasing as a combination of methods is applied. Data analysis frameworks, including exploratory data analysis, proportional ratio analysis, visualization techniques, and multivariate statistical methods such as principal component analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and receptor modeling, can reveal forensic insights from these analytical results. Effective PFAS forensics requires an understanding of what analytical methods can measure and how to interpret resulting data within the context of site history, transformation pathways, and fate and transport mechanisms. The integration of advanced analytical techniques with systematic data interpretation often provides a foundation for defensible source attribution to inform site management decisions. Https://ngwa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gwmr.70063

PRACTICAL FRAMEWORK FOR USING HYDRUS TO ESTIMATE PFAS MASS DISCHARGE FROM THE VADOSE ZONE TO GROUNDWATER
Torres, F., J. Simunek, J. Silva, M. Modiri, and H. Anderson.
Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation 46(3):114-123(2026)

A practical modeling framework is presented that uses the HYDRUS vadose-zone flow and transport code to simulate PFAS leaching and estimate mass discharge to groundwater. The framework outlines step-by-step procedures for model selection, domain design, parameterization, and boundary condition specification, emphasizing key PFAS processes such as tension-driven flow, nonlinear kinetic solid-phase sorption, and air-water interfacial partitioning. Guidance is provided on incorporating site-specific data, such as soil hydraulic properties, PFAS concentrations in biosolids or soil, and climate-driven infiltration dynamics, while addressing uncertainty through sensitivity analyses. Application of the framework demonstrates how HYDRUS can bridge lab, field, and regulatory needs by offering defensible, mechanistic predictions of PFAS flux to groundwater. The approach is adaptable across diverse site conditions, from agricultural fields impacted by biosolids land application to fire-training areas affected by AFFF. By providing a transparent and reproducible methodology, this framework supports practitioners and regulators in improving conceptual site models, prioritizing monitoring strategies, and evaluating remediation performance.