Swiss startup Oxyle announced a $16 million funding round to enhance its technology for destroying PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in wastewater. This follows a $3 million pre-seed round in 2022.
The seed round was led by 360 Capital, with participation from Axeleo Capital and returning investors Founderful and SOSV.
PFAS treatment has traditionally posed challenges for industries. Existing methods, such as filtration, often merely relocate PFAS without eliminating them. This leads to further environmental risks.
While some technologies can destroy PFAS, they usually require high energy consumption, making them expensive for widespread adoption. Oxyle claims to provide the first economical solution to PFAS contamination.
Oxyle’s technology reportedly achieves over 99% PFAS elimination while consuming significantly less energy than conventional methods. The three-stage process involves foam fractionation, catalytic destruction, and machine learning monitoring.
Oxyle’s funding increase brings its total to $26 million, including non-dilutive funding from grants. The company has initiated revenue-generating pilot projects and secured contracts for 2025 and beyond.
The technology has been shown to be effective in multiple applications. For instance, it reduced PFAS concentrations in groundwater from 8,700 ng/L to below 14 ng/L.
Oxyle’s first full-scale system was deployed in Switzerland in November 2024. It treats contaminated groundwater at a rate of 10 cubic meters per hour with low energy consumption.
Thomas Nivard, a partner at 360 Capital, expressed confidence in Oxyle’s potential to address PFAS pollution effectively. He noted that the startup sets a new standard in environmental technology.
With rising lawsuits and stricter regulations regarding PFAS in the U.S. and EU, demand for advanced treatment technologies is increasing.
Oxyle aims to treat 100 million cubic meters of contaminated water within the next five years, targeting various industries and municipal water treatment to combat PFAS contamination.
