Swiss startup Oxyle has raised $16 million in funding to scale technology that destroys per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from wastewater.
The latest funding round brings the company’s total funding to $26 million.
Unlike traditional methods, Oxyle’s technology does not merely filter or concentrate PFAS, it destroys over 99% of these molecules while consuming at least 15 times less energy than alternative destruction methods, according to the company.
The system’s three-stage process combines foam fractionation, catalytic destruction, and real-time monitoring powered by machine learning.
The company uses a nanoporous catalyst with exceptionally high surface area where PFAS molecules in water adsorb onto. Turbulence in the water efficiently activates the piezoelectric catalyst and creates transient surface charges across the nano and micropores of the catalyst. These charges generate highly reactive reductive and oxidative species such as hydrated electrons and hydroxyl radicals. The reactive species then completely break down PFAS into harmless mineral constituents like carbon dioxide and fluorides which can be safely discharged. The resulting clean water can also be discharged or reused.
The modular system eliminates the need for secondary waste disposal through incineration or landfilling. While traditional solutions require weeks-long lab analysis, Oxyle’s proprietary monitoring system provides instant feedback and continuous treatment optimisation.
The technology’s effectiveness has been proven across multiple applications. In groundwater treatment, it reduces PFAS concentrations from 8,700 ng/l to below 14 ng/l. For soil wash water, it achieves 99.8% removal of 11 different PFAS species. It eliminated 98% of short-chain PFAS and reduced trifluoracetic acid (TFA) concentrations by 96% in trials with an industrial customer. In November 2024, Oxyle deployed its first full-scale system in Switzerland, treating 10 cubic meters of contaminated groundwater per hour at less than 1 kWh/m³.
“Five years ago, Oxyle was two of us founders and one big idea: get rid of forever chemicals from our water. Today, that idea is proven, implemented, and ready to scale,” said Dr. Fajer Mushtaq, CEO & Co-Founder at Oxyle. “This funding is a game-changer. It gives us what we need to take our technology to the industries and communities that need it most,” she added.
The company was co-founded by Fajer Mushtaq and Silvan Staufert at ETH Zurich, where Mushtaq earned her PhD in Micro- and Nanosystems focused on water remediation, while Staufert completed his PhD in Mechanical and Process Engineering.
The company has grown to a team of 26, completed over 20 customer projects, and secured prestigious recognition including the Swiss Technology Award, SEIF, and WEF’s Uplink Top Innovators. With revenue-generating customer pilots under its belt and its first commercial installation operational, Oxyle is now securing multiple-year treatment contracts for 2025 and beyond.
Stricter regulations in both the EU and US are increasing demand for PFAS treatment technologies that can ensure compliance and minimise liability.
A recent investigation by the Forever Lobbying Project has found that the cost of cleaning up PFAS contamination in Europe can total €2 trillion over a 20-year period if emissions remain unrestricted.
PFAS are used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water, from non-stick pans to firefighting foam. Taking centuries to decompose in the environment, this family of over 10,000 substances is known as ‘forever chemicals’.
Associations have been found between exposure to these forever chemicals and a wide range of health effects. To date, these include altered immune and thyroid function, liver disease, high cholesterol, increased risk of some cancers—including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers—insulin dysregulation, kidney disease, reduced fertility and reduced foetal growth.
PFAS enter the environment through emissions from plants that make or use the substances, or through the use of PFAS-containing products, such as fire-extinguishing foams, textile impregnation agents, lubricants or PFAS-containing products in the waste stream.