CM Officine Balestro, a company based in San Pietro Mussolino (VI), specializes in industrial and civil purification, boasting extensive experience in designing wastewater treatment plants. It was back in 1976 when Tarcisio Sterluti had the prescient idea to found CM Sterluti s.r.l., aiming to anticipate and address the future needs of the sustainable market. This laid the groundwork for a company that would soon become a benchmark in the wastewater disposal sector. Acquired in 2017 and rebranded as C.M. Officine Balestro, today it’s recognized for the reliability of its products and stands at the forefront of developing solutions for PFAS disposal. This is a highly pertinent topic in public discourse, and it was a key discussion point at the XVII AICC Veneto Technical Conference held on June 13, 2025, in Chiampo (VI).
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemical compounds known for their resistance to water, grease, and heat. They are commonly used in the leather industry for waterproofing and finishing materials. The critical issue with these products lies in their difficult disposal and subsequent accumulation in water and the environment. Officine Balestro is actively proposing groundbreaking solutions to this problem.
One particularly innovative and recent development is a patented, fully automated system designed to significantly reduce the consumption of activated carbon, used for its high capacity to adsorb organic substances, and remove persistent micropollutants from wastewater, while ensuring operational effectiveness. Unlike traditional systems, where carbon is held in static barrels and only exploits about 60% of its capacity, this innovation allows for continuous and complete carbon utilization.
What’s the principle behind this technology? A constant flow of water enters the system. Thanks to a calibrated dosage based on the liquid’s flow rate, the carbon is directed into two agitated tanks, where the necessary contact time for adsorption takes place. Subsequently, a pump transfers the slurry to quartzite sand filters, which effectively capture the exhausted carbon. The system continuously monitors pressure within the filters: once a specific pressure threshold is reached, a backwash sequence is activated. This expels the exhausted carbon into a big bag before new carbon is introduced for regeneration, thereby guaranteeing consistently PFAS-free water. Furthermore, its operational flexibility allows for modulating the carbon dosage in relation to the initial concentration of contaminants, ensuring the complete absence of PFAS in the water. The exhausted carbon is then disposed through incineration and regeneration at authorized facilities, with the regenerated material returned to the client, creating a fully circular process. This exemplifies Officine Balestro’s industrial vision, where technological advancement and environmental responsibility seamlessly intertwine.
PFAS? A memory of the past: the new continuous filtration and total control system for wastewater
by mpastyle on