In a 7 months pilot at a mining site in Germany, CERAFILTEC has developed a process solution using ceramic flat sheet membranes for the removal of PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) and other heavy metals. The German TV, SR Fernsehen has reported the breakthrough news today “aktueller bericht“: https://youtu.be/a9pFKN_iTO8

PCBs are listed in the top 10 percent of EPA’s most toxic chemicals. Even after manufacturing and use were banned decades ago, PCBs is still released into the environment. PCBs were used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications.

PCBs traces in water can lead to an accumulation in the food chain. Especially fad-laden fish can bioaccumulate PCBs due to their lipophilic characteristics. Increased PCBs concentrations in milk products, chicken, meat, eggs, leaves and above-ground parts of plants and food crops have been also reported.

Under the Clean Water Act Effluent Guidelines, EPA prohibits the industrial discharge of PCBs. The goal for drinking water’s maximum contaminant level is zero, and the enforceable MCL for PCBs in public water systems is 0.0005 ppm.