PFAS treatment chemicals market forecast to reach USD 1.83 billion by 2034, says Polaris

The global PFAS treatment chemicals market was valued at USD 0.88 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1.83 billion by 2034, according to a new report from Polaris Market Research. The market research and consulting firm puts growth at a compound annual rate of 7.51%. It said the market is driven mainly by repeat purchases of treatment media rather than one-off equipment spending.

The PFAS treatment chemicals market report covers the carbon, resin and reagents loaded into filtration and treatment systems, as well as chemistries used to destroy PFAS. Polaris said it treats these as a separate market from hardware because equipment is bought once, while media is bought repeatedly.

Regulation sets the purchasing calendar

Polaris links demand closely to the limits of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in April 2024. About 66,000 public water systems, serving roughly 90 percent of the US population, must show they can meet the limit. The media used to do so eventually reaches capacity and must be replaced.

The compliance deadline for PFOA and PFOS is April 2029. According to the report, EPA proposed in May 2026 to extend it to April 2031 for systems that apply for and receive a federal exemption. The proposal would keep the 4 ppt limits while rescinding the 2024 limits for four other PFAS compounds. Polaris said this leaves suppliers uncertain about timing rather than direction.

Municipal and industrial buyers on different clocks

Municipal utilities, which buy against drinking water compliance and approved rate-case budgets, accounted for 49.84% of the market in 2025. Drinking water treatment alone made up 50.86% of demand. H2O Global News has previously reported on utility compliance work, including New Jersey American Water’s PFAS treatment project at its Salem plant.

Industrial and defence sites buy on a different basis. The report said the CERCLA hazardous substance designation for PFOA and PFOS has made cleanup orders, liability exposure and consent-decree timelines the drivers of procurement for these sites.

Carbon and resin in the PFAS treatment chemicals market

Granular activated carbon (GAC) held 43.68% of the market in 2025, supported by an installed base and long-standing utility relationships. PFAS-selective ion exchange resin is projected to grow faster, at 8.12% a year from 2026 to 2034.

The report cites a comparison by Purolite that puts its Purofine PFA694E resin at about USD 0.26 per 1,000 gallons treated, against about USD 0.45 for GAC for the same target. Polaris noted that costs vary with water chemistry and system design. It said buyers specifying new installations may weigh lifecycle economics more heavily. Purolite states that its resin can treat 10 to 20 times more bed volumes than GAC before change-out.

Destruction focuses on concentrated waste

Permanent destruction of PFAS remains expensive. A Minnesota study cited in the report estimated municipal wastewater removal and destruction at USD 2.7 million to USD 18 million per pound of PFAS eliminated. Polaris said this pushes the commercial opportunity towards concentrated waste such as firefighting foam concentrate and spent media.

AFFF concentrate and spent media destruction is the fastest-growing application in the report, at 10.36% a year. Supercritical water oxidation demonstrations with AFFF concentrate and spent media took place in 2025 and 2026. Hydrothermal alkaline treatment is at an earlier commercial stage.

Regional demand and competition

North America held 40.68% of the market in 2025, which Polaris attributes to the region having the clearest rule and deadline. Europe accounted for 25.44%. The European Chemicals Agency has proposed restrictions on more than 10,000 PFAS, but the report said demand there follows national and utility programmes rather than a single compliance date.

Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region, at 9.14% a year, driven by industrial contamination and water quality programmes in China, Japan and India. Latin America, with a 5.48% share, is expected to see demand arrive project by project.

Established capture-media suppliers named in the report include Calgon Carbon, Cabot, Xylem, Purolite and DuPont Water Solutions. The report highlights a nine-year agreement between Calgon Carbon and American Water covering more than 50 sites in 10 states.

Newer entrants such as 374Water, Aquagga and Axine Water Technologies focus on destruction chemistry for concentrated waste, with their commercial path running through federally supported demonstrations. In May 2026, Kemira and CuspAI used generative AI to advance 20 priority candidate materials for removing PFAS from drinking water, according to the report.

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