CarboNano.EU: FLTMC Finalist
CarboNano.EU is one of the finalists for the From Lab to Market Challenge.
We spoke with Christian E. Halbig (Founder) and Jan Soyka (Lead Researcher) about CarboNano.EU, one of the finalists in the From Lab to Market Challenge.
CHEManager: What is your technology, and what makes it work?
Christian E. Halbig & Jan Soyka: Our technology is based on thin membranes made from carbon-based nanomaterials. These membranes selectively enrich trace amounts of PFAS from water samples, enabling their quantitative detection by spectroscopic techniques. Unlike conventional solid-phase extraction resins, our approach achieves more efficient enrichment at lower cost through molecular sieving in laminar structures rather than adsorption/desorption-driven enrichment.
What problem does your technology solve, and what is the business potential?
C. E. Halbig & J. Soyka: Our technology addresses the need for sensitive and cost-effective detection of PFAS contamination in water. Current methods are costly, generate large amounts of chemical waste from used adsorbent resins, and also show low efficiency for short-chain PFAS. Our membrane-based approach enables more efficient PFAS pre-concentration with lower material consumption and cost. The business potential spans environmental monitoring, water treatment, industrial quality control, and regulatory compliance.
What's the next milestone your team is working towards?
C. E. Halbig & J. Soyka: Our next milestone is optimization of our membranes with improved selectivity for PFAS. Current prototypes are too effective, meaning they unnecessarily remove other dissolved components from water, e.g. minerals. This indirectly reduces water flux through the membrane. We are therefore tuning membrane structure and surface properties to optimize performance. The goal is to demonstrate robust performance in real water samples and validate the technology under application-relevant conditions.
