When Dr. Fajer Mushtaq turned on the tap as a child in Delhi, one question always loomed: was the water safe? Today, that same question haunts communities worldwide as PFAS—toxic “forever chemicals” used in everything from non-stick pans to firefighting foam—contaminate water supplies at an alarming rate. Swiss startup Oxyle, co-founded by Dr. Mushtaq and Silvan Staufert, have announced a $16 million funding round to upscale its breakthrough solution to destroy, not just relocate, PFAS from wastewater. Dr. Mushtaq shares her thoughts below.
MPT: Could you explain the need for new PFAS treatment approaches?
Dr. Fajer Mushtaq: Industries have long struggled with PFAS treatment. Current methods like filtration and adsorption merely move PFAS from water to other waste streams, requiring expensive incineration or landfilling that risks these chemicals leaching back into the environment through air or soil—creating an endless cycle of contamination. While some technologies can destroy PFAS, their massive energy requirements make them financially impractical for most organizations to implement at scale
MPT: What new approach does Oxyle’s treatment take?
Dr. Fajer Mushtaq: Oxyle’s breakthrough technology represents the world’s first economical and permanent solution to PFAS contamination. Unlike traditional methods that merely filter or concentrate these chemicals, Oxyle’s system destroys PFAS molecules, achieving over 99 percent elimination rates while consuming at least fifteen times less energy than alternative destruction methods. The system’s three-stage process combines foam fractionation, catalytic destruction, and real-time monitoring powered by machine learning—all housed in a modular system that eliminates the need for secondary waste disposal through incineration or landfilling. Whereas traditional solutions require weeks-long lab analysis, Oxyle’s proprietary monitoring system provides instant feedback and continuous treatment optimization.
MPT: Where do you see the next steps for this technology?
Dr. Fajer Mushtaq: 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. 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.
Looking ahead, Oxyle aims to treat 100 million cubic meters of contaminated water in the next five years. The company plans to expand its solution across industries, from chemical and consumer goods manufacturing to semiconductor production and municipal water treatment—ultimately restoring and protecting our waters from forever chemicals, down to the very last drop.
Oxyle is the world’s first economical, sustainable, and permanent answer to PFAS contamination. Its breakthrough PFAS catalytic destruction technology empowers industrial and environmental remediation companies in their fight against PFAS. Oxyle doesn’t just filter or adsorb PFAS, we eliminate it entirely to below detection limits. For more information, visit www.oxyle.com.