H2O Global News invited Anurag Bajpayee, Co-Founder and CEO of Gradiant, to share insights on the company’s latest advances in PFAS destruction and the global push for safer, more sustainable water treatment solutions.
Anurag Bajpayee, Co-Founder and CEO of Gradiant.
PFAS contamination has become one of the most pressing water quality issues worldwide. What are the main challenges you see utilities and industries facing when it comes to managing or eliminating these ‘forever chemicals’?
Absolutely, PFAS water contamination is a critical issue that spans countless industries. Studies suggest that almost 50% of the US tap water supply is contaminated by PFAS. These chemicals are linked to a growing list of health risks, including cancers and chronic diseases.
Industry manufacturers from agriculture to consumer goods are increasingly recognizing the associated risks — regulatory penalties, product recalls, and reputational damage have increased in the last few years.
The main challenge for utilities and industries is that conventional PFAS disposal methods aren’t effective in the long term. The process typically requires PFAS to be filtered out of the water and then incinerated or landfilled, which is costly and results in significant CO2 emissions. Inevitably, the chemicals are released back into the air or land, according to a 2023 analysis of EPA data.
Gradiant’s ForeverGone system focuses on destruction rather than capture. Can you explain the key scientific or engineering principles behind this approach, and why true destruction is so critical to long-term PFAS management?
Our ForeverGone technology is the industry’s only all-in-one solution that removes and destroys PFAS in water. It pairs two proven technologies, Micro-Foam Fractionation and Destruction Engine, to produce water that meets or exceeds drinking water standards for PFAS. Micro-Foam Fractionation separates PFAS into a highly concentrated micro-foam optimized for removal. The Destruction Engine uses electro-oxidation to permanently eliminate the full range of PFAS chemicals from the micro-foamate. Developed in our R&D labs, ForeverGone’s advanced electrodes deliver unmatched high oxidation power, effectively eliminating both long-chain and short-chain PFAS compounds, forever.
The traditional method of PFAS extraction leaves waste that requires costly disposal and poses environmental risks from landfilling and incineration. Some utilities in the US use processes that require waste to be transported cross-country for disposal. This merely shifts the PFAS burden from one community to another. That’s where destruction comes into play. Removing and destroying PFAS in one integrated, on-site process ensures complete and lasting elimination for the safety of communities and the environment.
You recently commissioned a system at Munich Airport, targeting contamination from firefighting foams. What makes airports and similar facilities particularly challenging sites for PFAS remediation?
Yes, our latest ForeverGone technology units are now operating on-site at Munich Airport, tackling contamination from firefighting foam. Airports can be leading sources of PFAS contamination in local communities due to the aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) they use to combat aviation and other chemical fires. The foam typically contains high concentrations of PFAS, which can then seep into the ground and contaminate local soil and groundwater.
What makes projects like Munich particularly demanding is the combination of scale, operational constraints, and the need for continuous safety readiness — you cannot disrupt airport activities while remediating. That is why on-site destruction is so valuable. We’re proud to be working with a high-profile, high-traffic facility like Munich Airport to permanently eliminate PFAS at the source and avoid these environmental and community risks.
The upgraded Destruction Engine unit marks a major reduction in footprint and cost. How do you see scalability and affordability shaping the wider adoption of PFAS destruction technologies globally?
Yes, we just announced that, after a four-year development program, Gradiant has reduced the footprint of its Destruction Engine electrooxidation unit by more than 100X, shrinking it to just 2% of the original system volume. In conjunction with the micro-foam fractionation, the result is a highly compact, mobile, and adaptable technology for both permanent and temporary PFAS remediation applications.
Scalability and affordability are huge factors for industrial customers. Offering a cost-effective, modular system is key for industries to adopt PFAS destruction technologies.
With regulatory pressure increasing in both the EU and the United States, how is Gradiant preparing to support clients as PFAS standards tighten — and what does this mean for the future of sustainable water treatment?
It’s a challenging time for the industry right now, because global demand is accelerating while regulations are tightening. In Europe and Asia, industrial PFAS limits are becoming stricter, while in the United States, adoption is advancing as standards evolve. Clearer rules around leachate sites are already driving projects forward, and upcoming EPA guidance is expected to accelerate nationwide implementation, creating one of the largest future markets for PFAS remediation.
Gradiant’s ForeverGone technology is giving our customers confidence to meet today’s standards and tomorrow’s. And as regulators begin to turn their attention to other compounds like trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), our technology establishes a foundation for long-term leadership in emerging contaminants.
