Universität Maastricht
Bart van Grinsven
Hygiene-Institut des Ruhrgebiets
Thomas-Benjamin Seiler
PFAS-resolve – Rapid PFAS Detection for a Healthier Environment
PFAS-resolve is an innovative Interreg Meuse–Rhine project running from 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2027. It brings together partners from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany to develop rapid, portable detection systems for PFAS – persistent “forever chemicals” such as PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA, which contaminate soil and water and pose a significant risk to the environment and human health.
PFAS are extremely persistent and difficult to degrade. Conventional laboratory analyses provide highly accurate results, but are often time-consuming and costly. This is exactly where PFAS-resolve comes in, reducing detection times from several weeks to just a few minutes. As a result, contaminated sites can be identified, mapped, and specifically remediated more quickly.
Innovative solutions for practical application
PFAS-resolve combines state-of-the-art technologies into an application-oriented overall concept:
- Portable biosensor for real-time detection of extremely low PFAS concentrations
- Phytoscreening methods using plants as natural indicators of environmental contamination
- Direct on-site applicability to support monitoring, mapping, and remediation planning
The project thus combines excellent scientific research with practical, ready-to-use solutions for public authorities, environmental agencies, and remediation projects.
Project partners and their expertise
The interdisciplinary consortium brings together scientific, technical, and practical expertise across all project phases:
- Maastricht University (NL): project coordination, sensor development, and international collaboration
- Bio2Clean B.V. (BE): phytoscreening and sustainable soil remediation
- Geonius Groep B.V. (NL): environmental engineering and geosciences
- University of Liège (BE) and FH Aachen – University of Applied Sciences (DE): development of sensor-based detection and monitoring technologies
- SPAQUE (BE): public-sector organization with extensive experience in soil remediation and brownfield development
- Hygiene Institute of the Ruhr Area (DE): site sampling, chemical analyses, and benchmarking of detection and monitoring methods
Together, the partners cover the entire process – from the detection and assessment of PFAS contamination to the development and implementation of remediation strategies and on to environmental monitoring and performance verification.
Funding notice
The PFAS-resolve project is co-financed by the European Union within the framework of the Interreg Meuse–Rhine (NL–BE–DE) programme. The total eligible project budget amounts to €2,283,626. This includes co-financing contributions from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalization and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Walloon Region (Belgium), and the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands.
Further Information
PFAS-resolve