Sergie Albino Builds ecoSPEARS To Remove “Forever Chemicals” From The Environment

(FORBES) — Hundreds of everyday products are made with highly toxic fluorinated chemicals called PFAS, a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water.

They are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they build up in our bodies and never break down in the environment. Very small doses of PFAS have been linked to cancer, reproductive and immune system harm, and other diseases, according to the Center for Disease Control.

Most remediation methods involve dredging contaminated waters or digging fouled landfills and shipping it to special incinerators to be burned. The EPA requires that an incinerator destroy and remove at least 99.99 percent of each harmful chemical in the waste it processes, but this process is expensive and time consuming.

“We refuse to believe that digging and hauling to a landfill to somebody else’s backyard, what we call a very expensive change of zip codes, is the solution. We feel we have a chance of becoming this instrument of change to improve the environment because we utilise innovation to truly solve the issue on site without burning it,” says Sergie “Serg” Albino, founder and CEO of ecoSPEARS…

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SPEARS as a Delineation and Monitoring Tool for PCBs and DDx in EPA Region 9

Location: Region 9 | Published: August 2, 2023

ecoSPEARS was contracted by a client to deploy multiple SPEARS mats along a shoreline in Region 9 for passive porewater sampling of PCBs and DDx contamination. DDx refers to a group of chlorinated pesticides including DDT, a pesticide banned in 1972, as well as DDD and DDE, which are byproducts when DDT breaks down.

According to the EPA, both DDx and PCBs have been recognized as carcinogens, posing potential risks to human health and the environment. Conventional sampling techniques often fail to account for the dynamic tides of oceans and the complex nature of these contaminants. As an alternative to ordinary passive samplers, the SPEARS mats were deployed to identify known contaminants, delineate contaminant concentrations across the site to identify hotspots, and record continuous contaminant uptake over time to reduce bioavailability to the local biota.

After an 8-month deployment period, the SPEARS mats were removed by the ecoSPEARS team, and sent to an accredited third-party laboratory for analysis of PCBs and DDx concentrations. The study’s results confirmed the detection of PCBs and/or DDx in multiple decision units through the presence of contaminants in the SPEARS. The data from this study indicated the SPEARS’ ability to accurately detect variations in concentration of contaminants in contaminated sites and identify hotspots that require treatment.

The SPEARS mats proved effective in the passive sampling of PCBs and DDx contaminants in shoreline environments based on the results from the Region 9 shoreline. The study’s results confirmed the SPEARS’ ability to detect the presence of these harmful substances in multiple decision units, demonstrating the potential for SPEARS as a monitoring tool.

SPEARS as a Delineation and Monitoring Tool for PCBs and DDx in EPA Region 9

Destruction of 1,4-Dioxane in Water

Location: Region 2 | Published: July 07, 2023

ecoSPEARS conducted two (2) separate experiments to evaluate the efficiency of the ecoCUBE UV destruction technology against 1,4-dioxane.

Experiment A: In-House Synthesized Sample

This in-house study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the ecoCUBE UV technology in treating water contaminated with 1,4- dioxane. Synthesized samples of 100 PPB 1,4-dioxane water were treated and analyzed at 5 minutes, 1 hour, and 8 hour intervals. The results revealed that UV light alone was ineffective in reducing the concentration of 1,4-Dioxane. However, when UV light was combined with Advanced Oxidative Process additives, significant effectiveness was observed. The maximum reduction of 99.67% occurred within the first 5 minutes of exposure.

Experiment B: Client-Provided Sample

In collaboration with a client, ecoSPEARS conducted a study on water samples contaminated with 1,4-dioxane to evaluate the efficacy of the ecoCUBE in degrading 1,4-dioxane within unfiltered groundwater samples. The study utilized AOP (Advanced Oxidative Process) additives in conjunction with Ultraviolet (UV) light to enhance the degradation process. UV-light with the AOP additives exhibited a substantial rate of 1,4-dioxane destruction, resulting in a significant reduction of approximately 60% in 1,4- dioxane concentrations after five minutes of exposure. These findings indicate that the UV-catalyzed AOP reaction can effectively destroy 1,4-dioxane, estimating a 99% destruction after 10 minutes, based on a linear estimate model or a timeframe between 20 to 25 minutes using an exponential model.

Destruction of 1,4-Dioxane in Water

ecoSPEARS Awarded $50,000 Investment by Ocean Impact Organisation’s 2023 Accelerator Program

(BUSINESS WIRE) — The cleantech solutions provider has been accepted into the six-month accelerator program, among other leading ocean impact startups

ecoSPEARS, a cleantech solutions provider of green remediation technologies, has been selected as one of the six most innovative ocean impact startups across the Pacific Rim, as the company has earned acceptance into the Ocean Impact Organisation’s 2023 Accelerator Program. As part of this recognition, ecoSPEARS will receive a $50,000 investment and will be rewarded with access to mentors and additional professional support as they participate in the six-month accelerator program…

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Extraction and Elimination of PCBs in Soils

Location: Region 9 | Published: May 15, 2023

ecoSPEARS was contracted to conduct a treatability study of samples of contaminated soil from a site in Region 9 to determine the efficacy of the ecoĀINA and ecoCUBE technologies. Soil from the site sits a major aquifer, which provides drinking water so a large volume of people. The site previously served as a storage area for chemicals and munitions during World War II, causing the soil and groundwater to become contaminated with heavy metals and hazardous Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

POPs are a group of highly toxic chemicals that do not break down naturally. These chemicals are released into the environment as a result of human activities, such as industrial processes, waste disposal, and the use of pesticides and other chemicals. Exposure to POPs can have serious health effects, including cancer, reproductive disorders, and immune system damage. Some POPs, such as Aroclors and dioxins, are considered to be among the most toxic chemicals ever produced.

Soil from the site was sent to ecoSPEARS to be treated with the ecoĀINA soil-washing technology. The resulting PCB-contaminated solvent was then treated in the ecoCUBE UV treatment technology. Samples were also tested by independent third-party laboratories to validate in- house data.

After treating the soil with the ecoĀINA, the total PCB Aroclor concentration was reduced from 21.22 PPM to 1.01 PPM, a 95% decrease. After treating the solvent with the ecoCUBE, the total PCB Aroclor concentration fell below the analytical limits of detection (0.02 PPM in-house, 0.16 PPM third-party).

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Extraction and Elimination of PCBs in Soils

ecoSPEARS Presents New Technology to Eliminate ‘Forever Chemicals’ at 2023 COPs Conference in Geneva, Switzerland

(BUSINESS WIRE) — ecoSPEARS, a Florida-based company with a breakthrough remediation solution developed by NASA scientists for eliminating PCBs and PFAS chemicals (known as ‘forever chemicals’), presented its green, sustainable remediation technology at the global 2023 Conference of Parties (COP) in Geneva, Switzerland.

The ecoSPEARS process to eliminate toxic contaminants onsite is becoming the leading technology for many countries moving forward, which is a paradigm shift in the ability to remediate toxic sites.

PCBs and PFAS chemicals have been widely used to manufacture industrial and consumer products, and their presence has led to global contamination of soil and water.

PCB chemicals have been linked to cancer, reproductive disorders, developmental problems, and other long-term diseases. PFAS chemicals have been linked to immune system dysfunction, thyroid disease, and cancer. PFAS has been found in food, food packaging, bottled water, makeup, toilet paper, artificial turf, and dental floss, as well as other products.

The breakthrough of ecoSPEARS technology is the ability to remediate toxic water, soil, and transformer oil where it exists, without having to transport and incinerate it. Current methods demand that toxic material is shipped thousands of miles to be incinerated. This method runs the risk of toxic spills in transit.

The ecoSPEARS process is non-combustion and non-thermal, so it is safer than the current method and costs less to implement. It involves two steps: the first is extraction of the toxic chemicals from soil or water; the second is the breakdown of these ‘forever chemicals.’ There’s no need to dig up or move toxic soil or burn it.

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ecoSPEARS Secures Investment from Florida-based Impact Investors venVelo and Sponsorship from Stirling Operations

(BUSINESS WIRE) — ecoSPEARS announced today that it has secured an investment from Florida-based impact investors venVelo and Stirling Operations to scale its sustainable remediation technologies to eliminate “forever chemicals” from the environment. The investment was made by venVelo, a Florida-based early-stage venture fund, and Stirling Operations, a group of independent sponsors.

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