Environmental Clean Technologies (ASX: ECT) has completed a pilot Rapid Electrothermal Mineralisation system that delivers 18 times the power of its lab prototype, enabling additive-free, in-situ PFAS destruction and targeting a field demonstration in H2 2026.
- Pilot REM system delivers 22kW, 18x lab prototype power
- Operates at 170 kHz and 2,200 V without conductive additives
- System is 50% smaller and 75% lighter than lab version
- Targets first in-field demonstration across soil and GAC in H2 2026
- Commercialisation planned via licensing and equipment integration
Pilot System Marks Leap Toward Commercial PFAS Cleanup
Environmental Clean Technologies Limited (ASX:ECT) has crossed a significant technical milestone with the completion of its pilot Rapid Electrothermal Mineralisation (REM) system. The new setup cranks out 22kW of power, roughly 18 times that of its earlier lab-scale prototype, enabling faster, more energy-efficient destruction of PFAS contaminants in soil and granular activated carbon (GAC). This jump in power output is pivotal for scaling the technology beyond laboratory confines to real-world, in-situ remediation.
Unlike previous versions, the pilot system operates at a high frequency of 170 kHz and voltage of 2,200 V, a substantial step up from the lab prototype’s 70 kHz and 500 V. This combination allows it to conduct current through contaminated soil without the need for conductive additives like biochar, which add cost and complexity. ECT claims this additive-free, high-temperature soil treatment capability has not been demonstrated by any other PFAS remediation technology.
Design Innovations Enhance Deployability Across Sites
The pilot system’s design overhaul extends beyond power electronics. It is approximately 50% smaller in volume and 75% lighter than the lab configuration, making it genuinely portable and compatible with existing agricultural and construction equipment. This addresses a key hurdle in commercialising in-situ PFAS remediation, which typically requires bulky, fixed infrastructure.
ECT’s Chief Technology Officer, Justin Sharp, emphasised the practical advances: “We’ve cut system volume by around 50% and weight by 75%, making deployment across contaminated sites much more practical to mount onto existing, commercially available construction and farming equipment.” The pilot system also incorporates aerospace-grade electrodes engineered to withstand the high temperatures and mechanical stresses encountered underground.
Validation Underway Ahead of Field Demonstration
Laboratory testing of the pilot system is already underway, showing promising performance that ECT aims to validate at scale. The company is procuring PFAS-laden commercial samples to confirm that the pilot replicates or improves upon the lab prototype’s demineralisation efficiencies, which previously exceeded 96% with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) removal rates up to 99.98%.
Subject to successful validation and regulatory permitting, ECT is targeting its first in-field pilot demonstration across both soil and GAC in the second half of 2026. This demonstration is a critical step toward converting the technology into commercial licensing agreements and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partnerships.
Commercial Strategy Focuses on Licensing and Integration
ECT plans to commercialise REM primarily through licensing intellectual property, complemented by integrating modular REM units with standard agricultural and construction machinery operated by industry partners. This approach aims to reduce capital expenditure on a site-by-site basis and enable flexible deployment across diverse contamination scenarios.
In parallel, ECT is advancing the GAC remediation pathway, broadening its addressable market into water treatment. The GAC pathway has completed laboratory validation, including a peer-reviewed study on commercial samples from the US Army Corps of Engineers, and is now being integrated into the pilot system for further testing.
With foundation development complete and validation underway, the coming months will be pivotal in confirming whether the pilot system can deliver on its promise of scalable, additive-free, in-situ PFAS destruction, a capability that could fill a significant gap in environmental remediation technology.
Bottom Line?
ECT’s pilot system leapfrogs lab prototypes, but field validation and regulatory green lights remain critical before commercial rollout.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the pilot system maintain lab-scale efficiency in diverse field conditions?
- How quickly can ECT secure licensing deals and OEM partnerships post-demonstration?
- What regulatory hurdles could affect the timing of commercial deployment?