Selective capture
Ion exchange is a selective capture technology for PFAS, applied at the very low concentrations at which PFAS occurs.
From PFAS concern to treatment assurance
INDION® PFAR specialty ion exchange resins help remove PFAS from groundwater, drinking-water polishing streams, process water and effluent applications through validated resin selection and treatment design.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent fluorinated compounds that may be detected in groundwater, surface water, industrial process water and effluent streams. Because PFAS can occur at very low concentrations and is influenced by water chemistry, treatment selection requires more than a generic media recommendation. Ion Exchange offers the INDION® PFAR portfolio of specialty ion exchange resins to support PFAS removal through water profiling, resin selection, lead-lag treatment configuration and performance validation on representative water.
Pathway 1
Drinking water and groundwater
PFAR700 gel strong-base anion resin for high-efficiency PFAS polishing in cleaner water matrices.
View the drinking-water pathway →Pathway 2
Non-drinking, process and effluent water
PFAR600 lead resin and PFAR800 macroporous lag resin for complex, variable and higher-loading water matrices.
View the non-drinking-water pathway →Ion exchange for selective PFAS capture
Lead-lag operation
The lead vessel provides primary PFAS capture. The lag vessel adds a polishing layer and early breakthrough protection before treated-water release.
Validated on your water
Performance is confirmed through benchmark RSSCT or column testing and LC-MS/MS (PFAS Analytics) validation.
PFAS treatability review
Which PFAR resin fits your water?
Pathway 1
Drinking-water and groundwater PFAS removal
Clean groundwater and drinking-water polishing applications require selective PFAS removal at very low concentration levels. For these applications, INDION® PFAR700 is positioned as a gel-type strong-base anion exchange resin for PFAS polishing in lead-lag configuration. The resin chemistry supports electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions with PFAS molecules, helping address short- and long-chain PFAS under defined treatment conditions.
- Designed for PFAS polishing in cleaner groundwater and drinking-water matrices.
- Lead-lag operation provides additional protection before treated-water release.
- Final design depends on actual PFAS species, water chemistry, EBCT (empty bed contact time) and target limits.
- Regulatory and certification requirements should be confirmed for each geography and application.
Typical treatment train
Step 01
Raw-water profiling
PFAS speciation, concentration, pH, TDS, TOC/DOC, sulfate, chloride, alkalinity, iron, manganese and turbidity.
Step 02
Pretreatment and guard step
Control suspended solids, iron/manganese and natural organic matter to protect downstream PFAS resin beds.
Step 03
PFAR700 lead vessel
Primary PFAS capture in cleaner water matrices.
Step 04
PFAR700 lag vessel
Polishing layer and early breakthrough protection.
Step 05
Treated-water validation
LC-MS/MS confirmation against target PFAS limits.
Pathway 2
Non-drinking, process, and effluent PFAS removal
PFAS-impacted non-drinking waters often carry higher variability than drinking-water sources. They may contain salts, organics, surfactants, suspended solids, oils, co-contaminants and mixed PFAS species. For these applications, Ion Exchange can configure PFAR resins in a lead-lag approach: PFAR600 as a robust lead resin for PFAS capture in complex matrices and PFAR800 as a macroporous polishing resin for waste and process water applications, subject to validation on representative water.
- Suitable for evaluation in industrial wastewater, process water, landfill leachate, AFFF/remediation water and high-TDS matrices.
- PFAR600 provides a robust lead-resin platform for complex waters.
- PFAR800 provides a macroporous polishing option for waste and process water applications.
- Pretreatment and residual management are critical to reliable performance.
Typical treatment train
Step 01
Water profiling
PFAS species, concentration, TDS, TOC/COD, surfactants, oils, suspended solids and competing ions.
Step 02
Pretreatment
pH adjustment, solids control, oil/organics management, DAF/GAC/filtration as required.
Step 03
PFAR600 lead bed
Bulk PFAS capture in complex non-drinking water matrices.
Step 04
PFAR800 lag and polish bed
Additional polishing layer for more difficult residual PFAS species and matrix variability.
Step 05
Residual-management pathway
Spent media, regenerant stream or PFAS-rich residual handling based on customer and regulatory requirements.
INDION® PFAR portfolio
PFAR resin selection depends on drinking vs non-drinking application and water matrix complexity.
Drinking water
PFAR700
- Resin type
- Gel strong-base anion resin; quaternary ammonium; chloride form
- Positioning
- Drinking-water and cleaner groundwater PFAS polishing in lead-lag configuration
- Key message
- High-efficiency PFAS polishing where the water matrix is cleaner and validation supports the design.
Non-drinking water, lead
PFAR600
- Resin type
- Macroporous weak-base anion resin with tertiary and quaternary amine functionality; free base form
- Positioning
- Lead resin for complex non-drinking water and effluent matrices
- Key message
- High total exchange capacity, optimized porosity and improved kinetics for PFAS applications.
Non-drinking water, lag
PFAR800
- Resin type
- Macroporous strong-base anion resin; quaternary amine; chloride form
- Positioning
- Lag and polishing resin for waste and process water
- Key message
- Macroporous resin developed for PFAS removal from waste and process water; final readiness to be aligned with plant scale-up and validation.
How the solution works
Stage 01
Characterize
Understand the source water, PFAS species, concentration range, target limit and matrix challenges.
Stage 02
Select
Choose the PFAR resin architecture based on drinking-water vs non-drinking-water application and matrix complexity.
Stage 03
Validate
Run RSSCT, mini-column or pilot testing with LC-MS/MS confirmation on representative water.
Stage 04
Design
Configure vessel sizing, lead-lag beds, EBCT, pretreatment and monitoring points.
Stage 05
Manage residuals
Define spent resin, regenerant, concentrate or residual-management route in line with customer and regulatory requirements.
How PFAS treatment options compare
An indicative comparison. Final selection depends on the water matrix and on site-specific validation.
| Technology | Best fit | Strengths | Key considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ion Exchange / INDION® PFAR | Best fitSelective PFAS capture in drinking and non-drinking water, subject to matrix validation | StrengthsCompact lead-lag systems; resin chemistry can be selected by application; useful for low-concentration polishing and complex matrices | Key considerationsRequires actual water analysis, resin selection and validation before performance commitment. |
| Granular activated carbon | Best fitEstablished PFAS treatment option, particularly for longer-chain PFAS and organic contaminant removal | StrengthsFamiliar to utilities and EPCs; broad adsorbent platform | Key considerationsLarger footprint; short-chain PFAS and organic competition can reduce performance. |
| RO / NF membranes | Best fitBroad dissolved-contaminant separation where concentrate handling is acceptable | StrengthsBarrier-based removal of many dissolved species | Key considerationsHigher pressure and energy; produces concentrate requiring management. |
| Hybrid systems | Best fitSites requiring combined capture, concentration and residual treatment | StrengthsCan integrate GAC, IX, membranes, foam fractionation, oxidation or disposal routes | Key considerationsNeeds site-specific design and evaluation. |
Typical applications
Drinking water
Drinking-water applications
- Municipal groundwater wells
- Community-scale drinking-water treatment
- PFAS polishing after conventional treatment
- Groundwater PFAS treatment before distribution
- Treatability studies for potable applications
Non-drinking water
Non-drinking, process and effluent applications
- Industrial process water polishing
- Industrial wastewater / ETP polishing
- AFFF-impacted water and remediation sites
- Landfill leachate and high-TDS PFAS-bearing waters
- Wastewater reuse / discharge compliance support
Validation
PFAS performance is site-specific
Ion Exchange recommends representative-water testing through RSSCT, column evaluation or pilot studies, followed by LC-MS/MS confirmation before final performance commitments or replacement-cycle assumptions.
RSSCT: rapid small-scale column test. LC-MS/MS: liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, used for PFAS analytics. EBCT: empty bed contact time.
What we need from you
Before recommending a resin, we ask customers for raw-water analysis, PFAS species and concentrations, flow rate, target limit and operating constraints.
- Application typeDrinking water, groundwater remediation, process water, industrial effluent, landfill leachate or AFFF-impacted water.
- PFAS profileSpecies, inlet concentrations, target outlet levels and analytical method/reporting limits.
- General water chemistrypH, TDS/conductivity, TOC/DOC/COD, sulfate, chloride, nitrate, alkalinity and competing ions.
- Physical parametersTurbidity, suspended solids, iron, manganese, oil/grease and surfactants.
- Operating dataFlow rate, duty cycle, pressure constraints, available footprint, EBCT preference and vessel arrangement.
- Validation needScreening test, RSSCT, mini-column test, pilot trial or full-scale design support.
- Residual-management expectationSpent resin handling, regeneration feasibility, concentrate management or destruction/disposal route.