WATERACT · Project

Modular Reactors That Destroy 90% of Toxic Micropollutants in Wastewater

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Imagine your factory or hospital flushes wastewater that still carries invisible toxic chemicals — stuff that normal treatment plants can't break down. Oxyle built compact, plug-and-play reactors that use a special catalyst to actually destroy over 90% of these stubborn pollutants, not just filter them out. Think of it like a high-efficiency shredder for chemical waste in your water pipes. The reactors run on clean energy, leave a small carbon footprint, and come in different sizes depending on how much wastewater you need to clean.

By the numbers

90%+

micropollutant destruction rate

EUR 2,042,000

EU contribution for market readiness

target operational small-scale reactors by 2023

target customers by 2023

5,620

target operational reactors by 2026

762

target global clients by 2026

139 M€

target revenue by 2026

The business problem

What needed solving

Factories, hospitals, and wastewater plants discharge water containing toxic micropollutants — persistent chemicals like drug residues and industrial compounds that conventional treatment cannot break down. These pollutants end up in rivers and drinking water, and tightening EU regulations (such as the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive) are forcing operators to act. Current removal technologies are either too expensive, energy-intensive, or simply ineffective against the most stubborn compounds.

The solution

What was built

Oxyle delivered a certified, market-ready small-scale catalytic reactor for on-site micropollutant destruction, demonstrated autonomously at customer sites. The project also produced a manufacturing-optimized product design with reduced footprint and lower production costs, backed by a patent filed in 2018.

Audience

Who needs this

Pharmaceutical manufacturers with micropollutant discharge compliance issuesMunicipal wastewater treatment plant operators facing new EU micropollutant regulationsHospital facility managers responsible for hazardous liquid wasteBiotech production companies generating chemical-laden process waterIndustrial water treatment service providers looking to add micropollutant removal to their portfolio

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Pharmaceutical & Biotech Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Pharmaceutical production facilities and biotech companies generating chemical-laden wastewater

If you are a pharma or biotech manufacturer dealing with strict wastewater discharge limits and persistent drug residues in your effluent — this project developed modular catalytic reactors that destroy over 90% of toxic micropollutants on-site. The small-scale reactor is installed at your facility and runs autonomously, so you avoid costly off-site hazardous waste transport. Oxyle's revenue model is based on a licensing fee plus recurring catalyst sales, meaning predictable operating costs.

Municipal Water Utilities

enterprise

Target: Wastewater treatment plant operators facing tightening micropollutant regulations

If you are a wastewater treatment plant operator struggling with emerging regulations on persistent chemicals like PFAS and pharmaceuticals — this project delivered certified, market-ready reactors that bolt onto existing treatment lines. The technology was tested at TRL 6 with on-site customer pilots before the project even started, and the project produced a certified small-scale product. Larger reactor sizes are planned for centralized treatment handling higher wastewater volumes.

Healthcare Facility Management

any

Target: Hospitals and medical research laboratories producing hazardous liquid waste

If you are a hospital or research lab concerned about hazardous micropollutants leaking from your wastewater into municipal sewers — this project built decentralized small-scale reactors designed exactly for that use case. The reactor installs on-site and operates autonomously for agreed periods, preventing intermixing of hazardous wastewater with general effluent. The system uses clean energy sources and imposes a low carbon footprint compared to existing treatment options.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does it cost to operate these reactors?

The business model is based on a licensing fee plus recurring catalyst sales, so you pay an upfront fee for the reactor and then ongoing costs for catalyst replacement. Exact pricing is not published in the project data, but the objective states the technology is 'cost competitive' with existing treatments. Contact Oxyle directly for current commercial pricing.

Can this scale to treat large volumes of industrial wastewater?

Yes. The project designed modular reactors in varying sizes — small-scale for decentralized on-site use (labs, hospitals) and larger reactors for centralized treatment at pharmaceutical plants and municipal wastewater facilities. The company's target was 5,620 operational reactors serving 762 global clients by 2026.

Is the technology patented? Can I license it?

A patent was filed in 2018 to protect the core invention. The commercial model is licensing-based — Oxyle licenses the reactor technology and sells the proprietary catalyst. A manufacturing partner produces the reactors while Oxyle manufactures the catalyst in-house.

Has this been tested in real-world conditions?

Yes. Before this project even started, Oxyle had conducted several successful on-site customer pilots using a TRL 6 prototype. During the project, they delivered a small-scale reactor demonstration installed and operated autonomously on customer sites, with lab-based measurement proving treatment performance.

What pollutants can it actually remove?

The reactors destroy over 90% of a wide variety of toxic micropollutants, including highly persistent compounds resistant to existing treatments. The technology targets persistent and mobile chemicals found in pharmaceutical, hospital, and industrial wastewater effluents.

Does this meet regulatory certification standards?

The project included a deliverable specifically for creating a certified reactor product, qualified against relevant safety, health, and environmental standards and product specifications. The project is now closed, indicating this certification work was completed.

Consortium

Who built it

WATERACT is a single-company project run entirely by Oxyle AG, a Swiss SME. With 100% industry participation and no university or research institute partners, this is a purely commercial endeavor — the science was already done, and this EUR 2,042,000 EIC grant was about turning a working prototype into a certified, sellable product. For a business buyer, this means you are dealing directly with the technology developer and manufacturer, not navigating a multi-partner academic consortium. Oxyle controls the full value chain: they manufacture the catalyst in-house and use a manufacturing partner for the reactor hardware.

How to reach the team

Oxyle AG is a Swiss cleantech SME — check oxyle.com for direct commercial contact. SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction to the right person.

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Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to evaluate whether Oxyle's micropollutant reactor fits your wastewater treatment challenge? SciTransfer can arrange a technical briefing with the Oxyle team and help you assess fit before committing.

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