Oxyle develops a modular, three-stage system that destroys PFAS molecules rather than merely filtering or concentrating them, combining foam fractionation, catalytic destruction, and real-time machine-learning monitoring. The company says its technology has achieved over 99% elimination rates while consuming 15× less energy than alternative destruction methods. Its proprietary monitoring delivers instant feedback and continuous treatment optimization, removing the need for secondary waste disposal by incineration or landfilling. Oxyle deployed its first full-scale system in November 2024, treating 10 cubic meters of contaminated groundwater per hour at under 1 kWh/m³. The funding will be used to scale deployments across industries and communities that need PFAS remediation. The firm was co-founded by Dr. Fajer Mushtaq and Silvan Staufert at ETH Zurich; Mushtaq serves as CEO and has a PhD focused on water remediation. Oxyle developed a nanoporous catalyst that, when activated by water movements such as bubbling or vibrations, generates oxidative radicals to break down micropollutants into carbon, fluorides and other harmless minerals. The core product is deployed in modular reactors and paired with an analytics platform for real-time monitoring of micropollutants. The technology was developed during co-founder and CEO Dr. Fajer Mushtaq’s doctoral research at ETH Zurich and is designed to avoid producing secondary waste; the catalyst is long-lasting and recyclable. Oxyle has completed paid pilots with industrial and municipal customers, grown to a 17-person team, and serves sectors including pesticides, chemicals, textile pigments, electronics and pharmaceuticals. In agrochemical pilots it reported removing more than 95% of compounds, and in remediation projects it reduced PFAS in groundwater to below detection limits. The company plans to expand its platform to flow-through systems, ultra-compact lab systems, municipal-scale deployments and low-cost solutions for developing economies while improving the speed and cost-effectiveness of its analytics. Oxyle has developed novel nanoporous catalysts that destroy over 95% of a wide variety of toxic micropollutants, including highly persistent compounds resistant to existing treatments. The company aims to offer modular, decentralized reactors of varying sizes to serve chemical industries, pharmaceutical and biotech firms, food & beverage companies, hospitals, and research laboratories. Oxyle’s approach is positioned as green, highly efficient, cost‑competitive, able to use clean energy, and to impose a low carbon footprint while helping customers comply with stricter discharge regulations. The ETH Zurich spin‑off has attracted global pilot customers and has begun to register revenues from paid pilots. Since its founding last year, Oxyle has raised over CHF 3 million in non‑dilutive funding from competitive grants and awards. The latest CHF 3.2M in non‑dilutive financing will be used to upscale catalyst production, support on‑site piloting, advance product development, and pursue certification to accelerate market entry. Oxyle is a spin-off from ETH Zurich developing a novel wastewater treatment that eliminates persistent and toxic micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals, hormones, pesticides, and industrial chemicals. Its technology relies on a catalyst made from nanoporous material and will be commercialized as small-scale reactors installed on customer sites. The company plans to offer solutions to industries, R&D labs, hospitals, wastewater treatment plants, and households. Oxyle was officially founded only a few weeks before the award. The startup received CHF150k as the Grand Prize from >>venture>>, a non-dilutive cash award; >>venture>> distributed over CHF500k to six startups. No revenue, user metrics, or prior financing rounds are mentioned in the article.

Total raised

$22M

Funding rounds

4

Latest round

Seed

Latest activity

Jan 2025