Industrial UV Tech Achieves 99.99% PFAS Destruction

A joint pilot between Claros Technologies and Daikin America has shown that high-efficiency PFAS removal is achievable at scale. At Daikin’s Decatur, Alabama site, the pilot system processed more than 50,000 gallons of PFAS-contaminated industrial wastewater, achieving greater than 99.99% destruction of targeted compounds.

The system, based on Claros’ proprietary UV-photochemical process, operated at hundreds of gallons per minute—demonstrating not just performance, but also scalability for real-world industrial operations. What sets this apart is the destruction of a broad spectrum of PFAS types, from long-chain to ultra-short-chain compounds, which are often resistant to conventional treatment methods.

This is a notable extension of Daikin’s existing PFAS management efforts. Since 2012, the company has reduced long-chain PFAS by 99.9% using conventional treatment. The Claros pilot adds a next-level layer by targeting more persistent and harder-to-remove variants.

Pilot Proves Economic Viability for Widespread Adoption

Alongside technical success, the economic side of the pilot also hit key benchmarks. According to Claros Technologies, the system was designed to be not only effective but financially feasible for ongoing industrial use—addressing a long-standing challenge in PFAS remediation.

Claros CEO Michelle Bellanca pointed to Daikin’s willingness to pilot and invest in the emerging technology as a critical factor in accelerating commercialization. "We are deeply honored to be partnering with DAI on this groundbreaking initiative. Their vision, leadership, and willingness to invest in next-generation solutions made this achievement possible. This pilot not only proves that large-scale PFAS destruction is viable today, but it also sets a new standard for environmental sustainability across the manufacturing sector. Claros is proud to have supported DAI in demonstrating what's achievable when innovation meets bold, forward-thinking action."

While Daikin has led internal initiatives on PFAS reduction for over a decade, this partnership opens up broader industrial use cases, particularly in sectors where PFAS discharge is tightly regulated but costly to manage.

With phase one completed, both companies are preparing to scale the technology further—expanding flow capacity and targeting even tougher chemical profiles.