“Clean water, down to the last drop” is the mission statement of Fajer Mushtaq and Silvan Staufert, the founders of Oxyle.
Launched in 2020, the ETH Zurich spin-off takes aim at per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): synthetic chemicals long used in everyday goods for their water, grease, and oil-resistant properties—and toxic to humans. “We’re driven by a shared vision to address water contamination and ‘forever chemicals,’” says Mushtaq, whose inspiration stems from encountering water scarcity during her upbringing in India. Common among nonstick cookware and water-repellent fabrics, PFAS exposure has been linked to cancers and immune system suppression. They’re also lost into wastewater and discharged into streams—ending up in drinking water.
But Oxyle’s modular reactors—applied at water treatment plants and reaching up to 100 cubic meters in size—break down 99 percent of PFAS into harmless mineral components, lowering levels below regulatory limits. Machine learning then adapts treatment to real-time PFAS fluctuations. Since raising CHF 12 million ($14 million) in pre-seed funding, Oxyle has partnered with major water technology companies in Europe (including Belgium’s Waterleau) to commercialize its solution. Its future target is helping to clean US waters.
