Kurita Water Industries Ltd. (Head office: Nakano-ku, Tokyo; President: Hirohiko Ejiri; hereafter “Kurita”) announced that it will collaborate with FREDsense Technologies Corp. (Head office: Calgary, Alberta, Canada; CEO: David Lloyd; hereafter “FREDsense”), aiming to deploy the PFAS concentration analysis field kit (FRED-PFAS^TM) developed by FREDsense (hereafter the “Kit”) within Kurita’s water-treatment systems with plans to scale its adoption across other applications.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic fluorinated compounds known for their strong chemical and thermal stability. They are widely used in both industrial and consumer products due to their water- and oil-repellent properties. However, certain PFAS compounds have been linked to serious health concerns, including carcinogenic effects and developmental impacts in children. As a result, regulatory standards on PFAS in water and manufacturing processes have tightened globally, particularly in the U.S. and Europe. In Japan, new water quality regulations will mandate routine monitoring of harmful PFAS compounds, such as PFOA and PFOS, starting in April 2026.

In response to growing regulatory and public health concerns, industries are seeking faster, on-site methods to measure PFAS concentrations in process and wastewater for monitoring purposes. Recognizing PFAS management as an urgent water- and environment-related social issue, the Kurita Group gathers and analyzes multifaceted data on PFAS impacts across its business domains, studies potential response measures, and, drawing on its technical expertise, supports customers in resolving PFAS challenges involving the analysis, treatment, and disposal of treated materials.

As part of this initiative, Kurita conducted a joint evaluation with FREDsense using the Kit to analyze PFAS levels in real wastewater samples. The trial assessed the Kit’s analytical accuracy, reliability, ease of use, and potential for broader application. The trials demonstrated that the Kit delivers high analytical accuracy with straightforward operation and confirmed that results, which previously required two to three weeks, including sample shipment and pretreatment, can now be obtained in just a few hours.

Following this successful validation, Kurita and FREDsense will collaborate to integrate the Kit into water treatment systems and accelerate its market adoption, drawing on Kurita’s water treatment expertise, extensive experience, and sector-specific knowledge.

The Kurita Group will continue to apply its decades of water-related expertise to develop cutting-edge technologies, products, services, and business models that deliver new value to customers and society. Kurita also aims to contribute to realizing a sustainable society by resolving social issues related to water and the environment.

Left: Mobile analysis kit for measuring PFAS concentration/Right: Kurita employee performing analysis with the Kit

< Reference Link >

• FREDsense Technologies Corp. Website: https://fredsense.com/

Please note that the contents of the news release are information as of the date of announcement and may be changed without notice.