Oxyle, a start-up specializing in the field of water purification from Schlieren in the canton of Zurich, has put into operation its first installation for the destruction of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances such as industrial chemicals found in water) in Switzerland, further details of which can be found in a press release. The installation addresses groundwater contamination caused by the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam during firefighting training exercises. Oxyle has developed an advanced technology that eliminates PFAS from wastewater and breaks down these chemicals into harmless minerals without any harmful byproducts, as the company writes in the press release.
The system functions in three stages: First of all, PFAS are separated and concentrated via foam fractionation. Thereafter, the concentrated foamate is processed in two reactor modules, where Oxyle’s advanced catalytic technology degrades and mineralizes all, short, medium and long-chain PFAS. The full system is enclosed in a 24-foot container, thereby offering a compact solution that can be used on-site.
The system treats up to 10 cubic meters of contaminated water per hour. Over the next six months, the expectation is that the plant will provide key data on long-term performance and scalability for larger industrial applications.
“This installation in Switzerland marks our transformation from promising start-up to proven solution provider. For the first time, our complete PFAS treatment system is operational in the field”, as Fajer Mushtaq, co-founder and CEO of Oxyle, states in the press release.
Oxyle was started in 2020 after being spun-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH). ce/gba
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