Purenat

Purenat is a deep-tech company established in 2020 by founder and president Natacha Kinadjian-Caplat, who partnered with biotechnology engineer Manon Vaillant. Kinadjian-Caplat, who holds a PhD in Materials Physico-Chemistry, leveraged over 14 years of research in indoor air quality to pioneer the company's core technology. The firm operates as a semi-finished product manufacturer, developing a patented, active textile designed to purify the air.

The core of Purenat's business is a biomimetic material that actively destroys airborne pollutants, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional activated carbon filters. This technology is based on an enhanced form of photocatalysis, where a specially developed thread, containing a photocatalytic agent, is woven into a nonwoven textile. Unlike coated materials, this integrated approach prevents loss of efficiency and the release of nanoparticles. When exposed to light, the textile transforms volatile organic compounds (VOCs), microorganisms like bacteria and viruses, and other pollutants into harmless carbon dioxide and water vapor. A key benefit of this process is that the material does not clog and regenerates, leading to a significantly longer lifespan of three to five years compared to the few months of conventional filters.

Purenat positions its product as a component for air treatment equipment manufacturers across various industries. The company provides turnkey solutions, including custom design of depolluting units, on-site installation, and performance monitoring. Target markets include sectors with significant air quality challenges such as waste and recycling plants, wastewater treatment facilities, food processing, and aerospace and automotive manufacturing. By reducing energy consumption from lower pressure drops in filtration systems and minimizing maintenance and waste, the technology presents a cost-effective solution, projected to be 10-20% cheaper than traditional systems. Following a funding round of over €1.5 million in March 2024, the company is scaling up production to address European markets.

Keywords: air purification, photocatalytic textile, VOC destruction, industrial air treatment, sustainable filtration, deep-tech, biomimetic material, air quality control, microorganism elimination, activated carbon alternative, low-carbon filter, nonwoven active textile, industrial decarbonization, odor control, waste treatment air quality, food industry emissions, aerospace filtration, patented air technology, Natacha Kinadjian Caplat, Manon Vaillant