Used for decades in everyday objects from non-stick pans to firefighting foams, PFAS are a class of chemical compounds known for their water, grease, and oil-resistant properties. While highly useful, they are also extremely persistent, earning them the nickname “forever chemicals.” Even at low concentrations, exposure to PFAS has been linked to over 13 health conditions including cancer, infertility, and endocrine disorders. They also take a toll on our environment, by accumulating in aquatic organisms, soils, and wildlife.
While existing treatments aren’t sufficient, Swiss startup Oxyle has developed the world’s first economical and permanent solution to eliminate PFAS from wastewater, breaking the endless cycle of contamination.
$16M to scale breakthrough solution
In a recent development, Oxyle has raised $16 million in a seed funding round led by 360 Capital, which backed enspired, with participation from Axeleo Capital as well as returning investors Founderful and SOSV, which backed MixRift and Inbolt. This builds on its $3 million pre-seed round in 2022, bringing total funding to $26 million, including non-dilutive grants.
With this funding, Oxyle plans to scale its PFAS destruction technology. It aims to treat 100 million liters of contaminated water over the next five years, expanding its solution across industries, such as chemical and consumer goods manufacturing, semiconductor production, and municipal water treatment.
“We are proud to lead the investment in Oxyle, whose pioneering technology addresses the massive global challenge of PFAS pollution,” said Thomas Nivard, Partner at 360 Capital. “Unlike traditional methods that merely contain these harmful chemicals, Oxyle’s solution destroys them permanently, setting a new standard for tackling this urgent environmental crisis. This is a game-changer. The team’s exceptional commercial and technical momentum has laid a strong foundation for establishing a true technology leader in the coming years.”
The birth of Oxyle
Oxyle was co-founded in 2020 by Fajer Mushtaq and Silvan Staufert at ETH Zurich, where Mushtaq earned her PhD in Micro- and Nanosystems focused on water remediation. On the other hand, Staufert completed his PhD in Mechanical and Process Engineering. Understanding that water treatment innovations couldn’t come soon enough, they developed a technology to degrade Forever Chemicals in minutes. They knew their breakthrough could change the world, but only if it moved from lab to reality.
Speaking to TFN, Fajer Mushtaq, CEO and Co-Founder of Oxyle, said: “I grew up in Delhi, where turning on the faucet always came with big questions: Was the water safe? Would there be enough? This early exposure to water scarcity helped shape my trajectory early on. While pursuing my PhD at ETH Zurich, I met Silvan Staufert, a fellow researcher with a deep understanding of engineering and a shared passion for tackling environmental challenges. United by a mission to protect the world’s most valuable resource, we turned our focus to one of the most persistent threats to water: Forever Chemicals. Realising the lack of effective solutions, we invented a technology that could degrade and mineralise Forever Chemicals completely.”
What’s interesting about this business model?
She added: “We take care of our customers’ PFAS issues by providing them with a plug and play modulator solution that treats their wastewater effectively while providing them real-time water quality data. Customers benefit from a flexible business model whereby they can purchase our treatment as a service, paying per cubic meter of water treated, or purchasing the hardware with recurring catalyst replacement and data monitoring subscriptions.”
First-of-its-kind approach to PFAS destruction
Unlike conventional methods that just concentrate PFAS, Oxyle’s system destroys these molecules, achieving 99%+ elimination rates while consuming at least 15 times less energy than alternative destruction methods.
The three-stage process combines:
- Foam fractionation: Separating PFAS from water
- Catalytic destruction: Breaking down PFAS molecules
- Real-time AI monitoring: Continuous optimisation for efficiency
Housed in a modular system, Oxyle’s technology eliminates the need for secondary waste disposal, avoiding incineration and landfilling entirely. Unlike traditional methods that require weeks-long lab analysis, it provides real-time treatment insights through its proprietary monitoring system.
Proven effectiveness across industries
As per the company, it 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. Oxyle’s technology has demonstrated exceptional results such as:
- Groundwater treatment: PFAS reduced from 8,700 ng/L to below 14 ng/L
- Soil wash water: 99.8% removal of 11 different PFAS species
- Industrial applications: 98% reduction of short-chain PFAS, including 96% lower trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) concentrations
In November 2024, Oxyle deployed its first full-scale system in Switzerland, treating 10 cubic metres of contaminated groundwater per hour with energy consumption below 1 kWh/m³, making it the most cost-effective and energy-efficient PFAS destruction solution available.
Scaling for global impact
With revenue-generating customer pilots and its first commercial installation operational, Oxyle is now securing multi-year treatment contracts for 2025 and beyond. By providing a scalable, permanent solution to PFAS contamination, the company is poised to transform industrial wastewater treatment, restoring and protecting global water sources, down to the very last drop.
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