CycloPure

CycloPure, Inc. operates as a materials science and environmental engineering firm, commercializing advanced adsorption technologies to combat water contamination. Founded in 2016 by Professor Will Dichtel and tech expert Frank Cassou, the company emerged from breakthrough research in Dichtel's lab, initially at Cornell University and later at Northwestern University. The scientific underpinning of the company is Dichtel's work as a polymer chemist, which led to the discovery of a novel method for creating highly effective adsorbent polymers from cyclodextrins, a sugar compound derived from cornstarch.

The company's core technology, DEXSORB®, is an adsorbent material engineered to capture and remove micropollutants, with a particular focus on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), from water. This technology utilizes cup-shaped cyclodextrin molecules linked together to form a high-surface-area polymer that acts like a magnet for small organic contaminants. A key performance differentiator is its ability to rapidly bind a wide array of PFAS compounds more efficiently than traditional materials like activated carbon. The DEXSORB® material is notable for its sustainability; derived from renewable resources, it can be regenerated after use, allowing the captured contaminants to be concentrated for safe disposal and the adsorbent to be repurposed.

CycloPure's business model encompasses a multi-channel approach, targeting residential consumers, commercial entities, and governmental bodies. For the consumer market, the company offers a range of 'Purefast' products, including countertop pitcher filters and whole-home point-of-entry systems that provide up to 160,000 gallons of PFAS-treated water. It also provides a PFAS Water Test Kit, enabling households to test their water and receive detailed lab analysis for 55 different PFAS compounds. On a larger scale, CycloPure collaborates with municipalities, industrial clients, and government agencies like the Department of Defense to implement its DEXSORB® technology in engineered water treatment systems. The company generates revenue through the direct sale of its filtration products, test kits, and the supply of its DEXSORB® adsorbent materials for large-scale treatment projects. Since its inception, CycloPure has raised over $10 million through various funding rounds, including Series A and B financing and grants from institutions such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Keywords: water purification, PFAS removal, adsorbent technology, environmental engineering, micropollutants, cyclodextrin polymer, water treatment, point-of-entry filtration, environmental monitoring, cleantech