Introducing the 2025 Cohort
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS, have quietly infiltrated the planet’s ecosystems. Dubbed “forever chemicals,” these synthetic compounds are used in everything from nonstick cookware, clothing, beauty products, and firefighting foams, and they do not naturally break down. As a result, PFAS accumulate in soil, rivers, fish, and even human bloodstreams. Their persistence and toxicity have turned them into one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.
Studies have linked prolonged exposure to PFAS with serious health issues, including hormonal disruption, weakened immune response, high cholesterol, liver damage, and developmental problems in children. Some PFAS compounds have also been associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, such as kidney and testicular cancer.
The long-term risk is clear: what we pollute today could end up in our drinking water decades from now, resulting in a disaster for health on a global scale.
Enter Hydrogenium, a Dutch startup founded by chemist and entrepreneur Guido Brugman, who is on a mission to tackle PFAS contamination with a novel, sustainable approach. Hydrogenium’s innovation lies in a bio-based adsorption filter made from residual wood waste, a readily available and renewable material. Unlike traditional PFAS filters that rely on synthetic ion-exchange resins or activated carbon, Hydrogenium’s filter mimics the high performance of ion-exchange chemistry while drastically reducing cost and environmental impact. “If you can modify a material that’s available everywhere, you gain a big leap ahead of the competition,” Brugman explains. The result is a scalable, affordable filter that captures multiple PFAS types effectively, without producing large volumes of wastewater or secondary pollution.
Guido Brugman, Founder & CEO Hydrogenium
But Brugman’s ambitions go far beyond one product. Hydrogenium is building a PFAS ecosystem: from industrial-scale biofilters for construction sites and water boards to home testing kits that let consumers check their own drinking or surface water in their backyards for contamination. Their home test kits will be soon on sale at their webshop. Revenue from these kits is reinvested directly into R&D, effectively turning citizen awareness into crowdfunding for innovation. Looking ahead, Brugman envisions partnerships with municipalities and larger industrial players to scale production and validate the technology in real-world settings. “You can’t multiply if you don’t share,” he says, emphasizing collaboration as a key to growth.
By transforming discarded wood into a tool for environmental restoration, Hydrogenium stands at the intersection of green chemistry and circular design, proving that the fight against “forever chemicals” doesn’t have to last forever.
The name Hydrogenium is the Latin word for hydrogen. “That is the smallest chemical element with the biggest impact on people and nature. I also started small and hope to do the same,” says Brugman.
