－ EFT’s PFAS Concentration and Recovery Technology Featured in Japan Ministry of the Environment’s Guide to PFAS Treatment Technologies－

Emulsion Flow Technologies Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokai, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan; President & CEO: Hiroshi Suzuki; hereinafter “EFT”), a Japan-based deep-tech company developing advanced separation and recovery technologies, is pleased to announce that a demonstration project utilizing its PFAS concentration and recovery technology based on the proprietary Emulsion Flow solvent extraction process (“EF Technology”), conducted under the Ministry of the Environment of Japan’s Demonstration Project for Technologies to Reduce PFOS and Related Substances adopted in July 2025, has been successfully completed. The project results have been published by the Ministry of the Environment in the Guide of Technologies for Reducing Concentrations of PFOS and Related Substances.

1.Background

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been widely used in applications such as food packaging, cookware, firefighting foams, and semiconductor manufacturing due to their excellent water- and heat-resistant properties.

However, because PFAS are highly persistent and remain in the environment and living organisms for extended periods, they are often referred to as “forever chemicals.” Growing concerns have been raised regarding their potential impacts on human health, including carcinogenicity and immune system effects.

Among PFAS compounds, PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) are regulated under the Stockholm Convention. In Japan, their manufacture and import are generally prohibited, and beginning in April 2026, PFOS and PFOA became regulated drinking water quality standards under the Water Supply Act. These developments have increased the need for effective water treatment technologies for water utilities and industrial operators.

In response to these challenges, the Ministry of the Environment launched a demonstration program in fiscal year 2025 to expand knowledge of effective technologies for reducing PFOS and related substances. As one of the selected participants, EFT conducted demonstration testing jointly with Ushio Inc.

2.Demonstration Project Overview

The project evaluated the application of EFT’s EF Technology to recover and concentrate PFOS and PFOA from actual landfill leachate generated at an industrial waste disposal facility. In addition, compatibility with Ushio’s PFAS photodegradation technology was assessed.

A key advantage of EF Technology is its ability to reliably recover target PFAS compounds to desired concentration levels even from challenging leachate streams containing high concentrations of organic acids and other waste-derived contaminants. The technology also enables substantial concentration of recovered PFAS, significantly improving the efficiency of downstream destruction processes.

Results of the demonstration project:

• Greater than 99.9% removal efficiency for target PFAS compounds
• Up to 2,400-fold concentration of PFOS and PFOA relative to the original wastewater
• Approximately 27-fold improvement in photodegradation efficiency when Ushio’s destruction technology was applied to EFT’s concentrated PFAS stream compared with untreated wastewater

Detailed results of the demonstration project, including the final demonstration report (available in Japanese), can be found at the link below:  https://www.env.go.jp/content/000405028.pdf

Based on these results, EFT’s EF Technology has been included in  the Ministry of the Environment’s Guide of Technologies for Reducing Concentrations of PFOS and Related Substances. The publication is expected to serve as a valuable reference for local governments, industrial operators, and other stakeholders evaluating PFAS mitigation strategies.

The Ministry of the Environment’s Compendium of Technologies for Reducing Concentrations of PFOS and Related Substances, which includes EFT’s EF Technology as one of the demonstrated water treatment technologies, is available in Japanese at the link below:  https://www.env.go.jp/content/000404224.pdf

3.Future Scenario

Through this demonstration project, EFT confirmed that EF Technology is effective not only for industrial wastewater but also for landfill leachate generated at industrial waste disposal facilities.

Building on these findings, EFT plans to leverage the knowledge gained through this project to expand deployment of EF Technology for PFAS-containing wastewater generated by chemical plants, semiconductor manufacturing facilities, fluorochemical production sites, and other industrial operations.

The company will also strengthen collaboration with municipalities and water treatment service providers to address PFAS contamination in landfill leachate and environmental remediation applications.

EFT  will continue to advance integrated treatment solutions that combine PFAS recovery and destruction technologies, enabling a complete treatment pathway from contaminant capture through final detoxification. Through these efforts, EFT aims to contribute to solving global PFAS challenges.

Emulsion Flow 500 L Demonstration Plant

EFT remains committed to accelerating the commercialization of innovative separation and recovery technologies that support environmental sustainability and a circular economy.

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