MELBOURNE: Environmental Clean Technologies Limited (ECT.AX) said on Thursday it has agreed to acquire a company holding the exclusive rights to a groundbreaking technology from Rice University that destroys hazardous “forever chemicals” in soil.
The Australian firm will buy Terrajoule Pty Ltd, which holds an option to license Rice University’s flash joule heating (FJH) technology, designed to remediate soil contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and heavy metals.
PFAS, used in everything from non-stick cookware to firefighting foam, are persistent environmental pollutants linked to health risks. The technology, known as Rapid Electrothermal Mineralisation (REM), uses a high-intensity electric pulse to heat soil to over 1,000 degrees Celsius within seconds, breaking down the tough carbon-fluorine bonds in PFAS and turning them into harmless minerals like calcium fluoride.
“Transforming scientific discovery into practical solutions is one of the most gratifying parts of research,” said Professor James Tour, the technology’s inventor at Rice University. “Under ECT’s stewardship, I believe this innovation has the potential to redefine soil remediation standards.”
Laboratory tests have shown the process achieves a 99.98% removal rate of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a common and harmful PFAS compound.
In parallel, ECT announced it has secured A$3 million ($2 million) in a share placement to fund the technology’s development. The acquisition consideration includes shares and performance rights tied to milestones, such as building a pilot system and securing a commercial contract generating at least $2.5 million in revenue.
The deal aligns with ECT’s strategy to build a portfolio of sustainable technologies, complementing its existing work on a fertiliser product. The company also said Chairman Faldi Ismail would transition to the role of Executive Chairman from Oct. 1 to lead the new initiatives.
($1 = 1.4900 Australian dollars)