A cutting-edge system designed to destroy “forever chemicals” was put to the test Friday for Minnesota elected officials, as General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) demonstrated its PERSES waste destruction technology at a local facility.

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., joined state and local leaders at the Lake Elmo site to witness the real-time elimination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of chemicals linked to health risks and persistent environmental contamination. The demonstration was part of a four-week pilot to showcase the system's potential for large-scale PFAS cleanup.

“This is an exciting day as we learn how to break down the toxic chemical bond of PFAS,” McCollum said. “Through Department of Defense investment and private-sector innovation, General Atomics has achieved an extraordinary scientific breakthrough by completing a successful PFAS remediation in a controlled setting. But there’s still work to be done. Now, we must focus on scaling this technology so that it can be a solution for communities and military installations at large to eliminate the threat of PFAS pollution.”

The demonstration was conducted under a contract with Bay West LLC, a St. Paul-based environmental consulting firm, and funded by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). The PERSES system will remain in Lake Elmo for several weeks before traveling to other sites nationwide for additional testing.

Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS, said the system can safely and efficiently destroy PFAS in a variety of waste streams—ranging from landfill leachate and sewage sludge to firefighting foam and filtration media. “PERSES is the most effective tool in the waste remediation toolkit that can help bring an end to the forever cycle of PFAS contamination,” Forney said.

The technology relies on a process called Supercritical Water Oxidation, which uses high pressure and temperature to break down contaminants. According to General Atomics, the process destroys more than 99.99% of PFAS and co-contaminants, leaving behind only water, salts, and carbon dioxide—byproducts the company says are safe to release without further treatment.

PFAS chemicals have been used for decades in products like nonstick cookware, firefighting foam, and water-repellent fabrics. Their resilience has led to widespread pollution in water and soil, sparking regulatory crackdowns and calls for new cleanup solutions.

Bay West, the project’s lead contractor, called the demonstration a promising step for communities grappling with PFAS contamination. ERDC officials say field tests like the one in Lake Elmo are critical to assessing which technologies can be deployed at scale.

General Atomics plans to bring the PERSES system to additional test sites across the country in the coming months.