Claros demonstrates ≥99.99% PFAS destruction in groundwater from MPCA Lake Elmo site
ClarosTechUV delivers commercial-scale performance in complex remediation conditions using PFAS concentrate from Lake Elmo Minnesota site
19 May 2026Product news
Claros Technologies, Inc. (Claros) has announced new study results showing at least 99.99% destruction of targeted PFAS compounds perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) using its ClarosTechUV™ system at a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) groundwater remediation site in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, demonstrating a scalable, cost-effective solution for permanent PFAS destruction in real-world conditions.
Real-world PFAS destruction at MPCA Lake Elmo site
The MPCA provided Claros with foam fractionation concentrate generated from the treatment of approximately one million gallons of contaminated groundwater and surface water at the Lake Elmo remediation site in Minnesota. This process produced a highly concentrated PFAS matrix containing elevated levels of PFOS, PFOA, and other short- and ultra-short-chain PFAS compounds.
The study evaluated ClarosTechUV™ as part of an integrated treatment system applied to this low-transparency water matrix, which was characterized by significant turbidity and near-zero UV transmittance in its raw form. These conditions are representative of real-world remediation environments rather than controlled laboratory settings.
Commercial-scale PFAS destruction performance
At commercial scale, ClarosTechUV™ achieved at least 99.99% destruction of PFOS and PFOA on filtered concentrate in just four hours. This high level of performance was maintained consistently across small-, bench-, and commercial-scale systems.
The volume of concentrate treated in the commercial-scale system was derived from approximately 600,000 gallons of groundwater, underscoring the relevance of ClarosTechUV™ to large-scale PFAS remediation projects.
Validating performance under real-world conditions
Building on prior deployments across industrial sites, including a 170,000-gallon (approximately 640,000 liters) commercial optimization run with Daikin America, one of the largest in-field PFAS destruction tests conducted to date, this study focused on subsystem-level performance. In this configuration, ClarosTechUV™ is paired with capture-concentration technologies for on-site PFAS destruction.
With the completion of this study, ClarosTechUV™ has now been used to treat more than 1,000,000 gallons (approximately 3.8 million liters) of PFAS-impacted water across laboratory, pilot, and commercial deployments.
Analytical validation and PFAS mineralization
Samples from the Lake Elmo pilot were analyzed by ClarosLabs™ using a modified U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 1633 for targeted PFAS compounds, including PFOS and PFOA. Total organofluorine measurements were obtained using combustion ion chromatography (CIC).
Results showed approximately 88% reduction in total organic fluorine following treatment, with a corresponding increase in inorganic fluoride. This shift confirms the conversion of PFAS into mineralized end products, providing analytical validation that ClarosTechUV™ not only breaks down PFAS but drives them toward mineralization.
Scalable and cost-effective PFAS destruction for remediation sites
The MPCA Lake Elmo site pilot results also demonstrate strong energy and cost performance for ClarosTechUV™. The system achieved at least 99.99% PFOS and PFOA destruction at commercial scale in four hours, with energy consumption below 200 Wh/L.
Operating expenses were approximately $0.015 per 1,000 gallons ($0.004 per cubic meter) of untreated groundwater, highlighting the potential for cost-effective PFAS destruction at contaminated groundwater and remediation sites.
“What this pilot makes clear is that ClarosTechUV™ is built for the realities of the field,” said Michelle Bellanca, CEO of Claros Technologies. “Whether the water is clean or highly complex, low-transparency, or heavily loaded with PFAS, our system adapts and delivers consistent, high-level destruction performance. That kind of reliability, across conditions, is what ultimately makes large-scale, permanent PFAS destruction achievable.”
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Frequently asked questions
How does ClarosTechUV™ achieve real-world PFAS destruction at the MPCA Lake Elmo groundwater remediation site in Minnesota?
ClarosTechUV™ was deployed at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) groundwater remediation site in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, using foam fractionation concentrate generated from the treatment of approximately one million gallons of contaminated groundwater and surface water. This produced a highly concentrated PFAS matrix with elevated levels of PFOS, PFOA, and other short- and ultra-short-chain PFAS compounds.
Despite significant turbidity and near-zero UV transmittance in the raw water, ClarosTechUV™ functioned as part of an integrated treatment system and demonstrated at least 99.99% destruction of targeted PFAS compounds PFOS and PFOA, validating its effectiveness under real-world remediation conditions.
What commercial-scale PFAS destruction performance and scalability did ClarosTechUV™ demonstrate, including at the MPCA Lake Elmo site and in deployments with Daikin America?
At commercial scale, ClarosTechUV™ achieved at least 99.99% destruction of PFOS and PFOA on filtered concentrate in just four hours, using concentrate derived from approximately 600,000 gallons of groundwater at the MPCA Lake Elmo site. This performance was consistent across small-, bench-, and commercial-scale systems.
Building on prior industrial deployments, including a 170,000-gallon (approximately 640,000 liters) commercial optimization run with Daikin America—one of the largest in-field PFAS destruction tests to date — ClarosTechUV™ has now treated more than 1,000,000 gallons (approximately 3.8 million liters) of PFAS-impacted water across laboratory, pilot, and commercial settings, demonstrating strong scalability for large PFAS remediation projects.
How do analytical validation and cost metrics confirm ClarosTechUV™ as a scalable, cost-effective solution for permanent PFAS destruction at contaminated groundwater and remediation sites?
Analytical validation from the Lake Elmo pilot, performed by ClarosLabs™ using a modified U.S. EPA Method 1633 and combustion ion chromatography (CIC), showed approximately 88% reduction in total organic fluorine with a corresponding increase in inorganic fluoride, confirming that ClarosTechUV™ drives PFAS compounds such as PFOS and PFOA toward mineralized end products.
From a cost and energy perspective, the system achieved at least 99.99% PFOS and PFOA destruction at commercial scale in four hours with energy consumption below 200 Wh/L. Operating expenses were approximately $0.015 per 1,000 gallons ($0.004 per cubic meter) of untreated groundwater, indicating that ClarosTechUV™ offers a scalable and cost-effective approach for permanent PFAS destruction at contaminated groundwater and remediation sites.