Two Ohio-based companies are joining forces to tackle one of the country’s most persistent environmental threats: toxic “forever chemicals.” Revive Environmental and Battelle have been selected by the Department of Defense (DoD) to demonstrate a breakthrough technology designed to destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, at a Detroit waste facility.

PFAS, used for decades in firefighting foams, manufacturing, and consumer products, have earned the nickname “forever chemicals” because they do not break down naturally in the environment. The chemicals have been found in drinking water, soil, and even the blood of Americans. Concerns over their health risks have prompted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue strict new limits for six PFAS compounds in drinking water and to classify two common types, PFOA and PFOS, as hazardous substances.

The new project will showcase Revive Environmental’s PFAS Annihilator, a technology that uses supercritical water oxidation to destroy PFAS at the molecular level. Unlike traditional methods that capture or move PFAS from one waste stream to another, this technology aims to eliminate the chemicals entirely, with no harmful byproducts. The field demonstration, funded through the DoD’s Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), will take place at a Clean Earth facility in Detroit, Michigan.

“PFAS contamination is one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time, and we have the technology to eliminate it for good,” said David Trueba, President and CEO of Revive Environmental. “This demonstration will prove that our PFAS Annihilator can destroy these harmful chemicals completely, giving industries and government agencies a real, scalable solution.”

If successful, the demonstration could pave the way for federal agencies to fast-track contracts for the PFAS Annihilator system, helping more communities address contamination. The ESTCP program was created to identify cost-effective, innovative solutions to environmental problems facing the military and other federal facilities. Technologies are tested in real-world settings to ensure they are effective, affordable, and scalable.

Revive Environmental, co-founded by Battelle and Viking Global Investors, specializes in water treatment and environmental cleanup, focusing on advanced technologies to eliminate PFAS. Battelle, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, is a nonprofit research and development organization with a long history of tackling complex scientific challenges for government and industry.

The demonstration is expected to confirm that the technology can destroy more than 99.9% of PFAS in waste streams while meeting environmental regulations, according to the companies.

For more information about the project, visit www.revive-environmental.com.