DECATUR — Through the work of a Decatur manufacturing plant, so-called “forever chemicals” may no longer last forever.
Claros Technologies has completed a large-scale commercial run of its UV-photochemical PFAS destruction technology platform at Daikin America’s Decatur facility.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoralkyl substances) are manmade “forever chemicals” known for repelling water, grease, and heat and are used in products such as non-stick pans, firefighting foams, and waterproof clothing.
However, they don’t break down, leading to widespread environmental contamination (air, water, soil). The chemicals also accumulate in humans and are linked to health issues such as cancer, thyroid problems, and immune dysfunction.
Exposure occurs through food, water, dust, and consumer products, prompting significant health and environmental concern, with agencies working to detect, regulate, and remove them.
The collaboration, which treated more than 170,000 gallons of industrial process water, underscores Daikin America’s leadership in sustainable manufacturing, according to a news release.
“Over the past year, we’ve proven that complete PFAS destruction at industrial scale is not theoretical — it’s happening now,” said David Hendrixson, executive vice president of Daikin America. “This milestone reflects DAI’s long-standing leadership in sustainability and our commitment to embracing innovative technologies that move the industry — and our customers — forward.
“Partnering with a company like Claros — whose ClarosTechUV system represents the most advanced commercially ready PFAS destruction technology — demonstrates how collaboration and innovation can deliver real environmental progress.”
Building on the success of an initial pilot this year, the commercial optimization run validates and confirms the technology’s readiness for full commercial deployment, the release said.
“This commercialization marks a turning point — not just for DAI and Claros, but for the entire PFAS landscape,” said Michelle Bellanca, CEO and co-founder of Claros. “We are on the cusp of delivering the most advanced commercial-scale PFAS destruction technology for high-flow industrial wastewater — proof that industry can lead the way in sustainable, high-performance, and affordable innovation.
“DAI’s partnership and commitment to championing the ClarosTechUV solution have been key to turning this breakthrough into industrial reality.”
According to Claros, its system treated more than 170,000 gallons of industrial process water containing a range of PFAS compounds. The system achieved greater than 99.99% destruction of all targeted PFAS species — long, short, and ultra-short chain — at high flow rates capable of hundreds of gallons per minute while demonstrating stable performance and exceptional energy efficiency as well.
With this milestone, DAI and Claros said they are working toward engineering and system specifications for the first full-scale PFAS destruction commercial installation.
The two companies are also expanding their collaboration, helping manufacturers and industry partners close the PFAS loop and advance truly sustainable production.
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