Dutch Alliance Aims to Destroy Forever Chemicals in Wastewater

2026-07-17 green

Alkmaar, Friday, 17 July 2026.
A new Dutch partnership will scale up technology by 2027 to destroy toxic forever chemicals in wastewater while simultaneously generating clean energy like hydrogen.

A Strategic Alliance to Tackle Forever Chemicals

On July 15, 2026, Dutch clean-tech innovator SCW Systems and circular water specialist Allied Waters signed a long-term alliance agreement to commercialize and scale up SuperCritical Cleanup (SCC) technology [1][2][3]. This partnership aims to deploy a highly anticipated solution capable of breaking down harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals,” which otherwise resist natural degradation [1][2][3]. By targeting these persistent pollutants in industrial wastewater, the collaboration addresses one of the most pressing environmental challenges of the modern era [4].

The Science of Supercritical Water Gasification

At the core of this innovation is supercritical water gasification (SCWG), branded as SuperCritical Cleanup (SCC) [1][2][3]. The process utilizes “supercritical water”—water subjected to an extreme temperature of 374 °C and a pressure of 221 bar [1][2][3]. Under these specific conditions, water exhibits unique physicochemical properties that allow it to efficiently crack organic compounds [3]. This enables the system to decompose toxic PFAS molecules, converting hazardous materials and industrial wastewater into clean water and renewable gas [2].

From Technical Validation to Commercial Application

SCW Systems, which operates out of Alkmaar, Netherlands, has spent nine years developing and refining its supercritical water gasification technology [6]. Over the three-year period leading up to July 14, 2026, the company accumulated more than 3,000 operational hours and processed approximately 3,000 tons of throughput at its facility [6]. This yields an average processing rate of 1 ton of throughput per operational hour during this developmental phase, demonstrating the technology’s steady operational viability [6].

A Roadmap to Industrial Scale by 2027

Looking ahead, SCW Systems and Allied Waters aim to launch their first industrial-scale PFAS test runs starting in 2027 [1][2][3]. Jos Boere, the Director of Allied Waters, noted that what began as a joint development project with KWR Water Research is now successfully finding its way into practical application, particularly for treating industrial wastewater on industrial estates [1][2][3]. The partners expect to begin upscaling these initial PFAS runs from 2027 onwards as they optimize the SCC process for commercial markets [1][2][3].

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green technology PFAS destruction