Shaun Malin, P.G.

Soil Remediation of PFAS Using Rapid Leaching Technology 

Shaun Malin, P.G., Principal & Director of Strategic Development, HRP Associates, Inc.

HRP Associates, Inc (HRP) will present the results of a field pilot study completed at a military installation of proprietary technology used to remediate PFAS in soil. The technology uses a unique and patented filtration system that allows soil to be fully saturated with water and then rapidly dewatered in a watertight containment cell constructed from geomembrane and geosynthetic clay liners. The generated leachate is collected in a secondary watertight cell that is similarly constructed and then pumped through a wastewater treatment system to remove PFAS for future destruction or disposal. The treated water is then reused and the process repeated.  This PFAS remediation process is referred to as Rapid Leaching Technology (RLT). RLT is easily scalable and can be designed to manage any weekly throughout (i.e., <100 cubic yards or >1,000 cubic yards).     RLT works by fully saturating soil, removing the micro-NAPL layer, and then rapidly de-watering the soil. Once the soil is saturated, the highly soluble PFAS contamination within the soil matrix is partitioned into a liquid phase. Once in a liquid phase, the PFAS analytes can be easily removed and consolidated through a wastewater treatment process. The soil is then re-saturated with the treated water within the containment cell as necessary until the desired PFAS removal limits have been obtained (i.e., EPA Regional Screening Levels).     Three separate benchtop studies of the RLT remediation technology have documented average total PFAS removal ranging from 89 to 93 percent per rinse cycle. The technology removed 94 to 100 percent of the five PFAS analytes regulated by the EPA. Total PFAS is defined as the sum of all reported PFAS analytes included in EPA Method 1633.  Additional rise cycles can be incorporated into the technology to achieve additional PFAS removal. The benchtop studies used three and four rinse cycles to determine the effectiveness.   

Shaun Malin has 22 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry and currently serves as HRP’s Director of Strategic Development. Shaun’s expertise spans key environmental regulations such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). His notable projects include a time-critical PCB removal action mandated by USEPA Region 4, remediation of chlorinated solvents beneath active manufacturing facilities, vapor intrusion assessments, industrial lagoon and surface impoundment cleanups, and landfill leachate investigations. He also specializes in risk-based remedial strategies for brownfield redevelopment and the management of plant decommissioning and decontamination projects.

His project portfolio includes sites impacted by chlorinated solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons, PCBs, PFAS, and heavy metals, serving a diverse range of industrial, commercial, academic, and municipal clients nationwide. Shaun’s deep understanding of contaminant transport and remediation, combined with innovative problem-solving, has led to successful outcomes for HRP’s clientele. He maintains strong working relationships with regulatory agency staff throughout the South and across the country, ensuring effective communication, practical guidance, and project success.