OzWater 2026: Advancing PFAS Treatment with Sustainable Activated Carbon

OzWater 2026

Date: 26–28 May 2026  Location: Booth S07 | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Bygen will be exhibiting at OzWater 2026, bringing together industry, government and water professionals to explore practical solutions for emerging water challenges. As regulatory focus continues to evolve, PFAS remains a key priority across municipal, industrial and environmental applications.

Expanding the Role of Activated Carbon in PFAS Treatment

PFAS management is entering a new phase. While long-chain PFAS have historically been the focus of treatment strategies, increasing attention is now being placed on short-chain PFAS. These compounds are widely detected across landfills, leachate, stormwater and wastewater systems, and present a distinct challenge due to their higher mobility and persistence in the environment.

Conventional treatment approaches have often struggled to effectively remove short-chain PFAS. Activated carbon, long associated with strong performance for long-chain compounds, is now being re-evaluated as new research and validation by Bygen demonstrate its broader potential.

The conversation is shifting from whether activated carbon can address PFAS, not long-chain but also short-chain compounds, to how it is designed, engineered and applied in real-world conditions.

ALGA x Bygen Webinar

Topic: Short-Chain PFAS: Why Conventional Activated Carbon Treatment Has Been Challenging and What Local Governments Need to Know

Date: May 7, 2026

Time: 12.00pm – 1.00pm AEST

Short-chain PFAS is increasingly detected across water, wastewater and landfill systems, presenting greater challenges for activated carbon due to lower adsorption affinity. Conventional activated carbon has historically shown limited performance for short-chain PFAS; however, recent research led by Dr Mohammad demonstrates that performance can be improved with engineered activated carbon materials and has now been validated under tested conditions. 

This reinforces the role of advanced, sustainable activated carbon as a scalable, operationally simple, and lower-impact solution compared to alternative treatment technologies. This session explores how carbon design and adsorption mechanisms influence performance.

Speaker Spotlight: Dr Mohammad S. Islam

Dr Mohammad, Head of Research, Development and Product at Bygen, leads the development of next-generation activated carbon materials for PFAS, water and contaminated-site treatment.

With a PhD in materials and process engineering, Dr Mohammad’s work focuses on adsorption performance, pore structure optimisation and addressing real-world treatment challenges, including short-chain PFAS.

He also leads Bygen’s Australian Government-funded CRC-P project, advancing treatment solutions for short-chain PFAS and exploring pathways for activated carbon regeneration and reuse. His work has played a key role in translating Bygen’s patented low-temperature activated carbon (LTA) technology into scalable, commercially deployed solutions.

Register here

OzWater 26 Stage Tech Talk by Dr Mohammad

Topic: Activated Carbon for PFAS: Expanding from Long-Chain Removal to Short-Chain Performance

Date:  Day 2 | Wednesday 27 May 

Time: 1:50pm–2:00pm

Location: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

This technical session will explore how advancements in activated carbon design are enabling improved performance across a broader range of PFAS compounds, including short-chain variants.

Drawing on pilot studies and ongoing research, the discussion will examine how adsorption mechanisms differ between long- and short-chain PFAS. While long-chain removal has traditionally relied on hydrophobic interactions, short-chain PFAS requires a greater focus on electrostatic interactions and micropore accessibility.

These insights have direct implications for material design. Pore structure, surface chemistry and accessibility are critical factors influencing adsorption performance, particularly under real-world operating conditions.

The session will also address the limitations of conventional coal- and coconut-based carbons, highlighting performance trade-offs and the importance of selecting fit-for-purpose materials. Comparisons with alternative treatment technologies will provide a practical perspective on cost, complexity and deployment considerations.

Attendees will gain a clear, application-focused understanding of how performance-driven activated carbon solutions can support more effective and resilient PFAS treatment strategies.

Exclusive Technical Sessions with PFAS Expert at Booth S07

Limited spots | By Appointment only

For those seeking a deeper technical discussion, Dr Mohammad will be available for one day only at Booth S07 - 26 May 2026. 

These sessions are suited to utilities, consultants, industry and government stakeholders looking to review specific projects, explore treatment considerations or better understand how activated carbon can be applied within their PFAS management strategy.

Meeting availability is limited. To secure a time, please complete the contact form, and our team will be in touch to confirm your appointment.

2026 PFAS Clear Pilot Program - Launching Soon

Bygen’s PFAS Clear Pilot Program is evolving in line with recent validation demonstrating that activated carbon can effectively address both long-chain and short-chain PFAS. This marks a significant shift from traditional assumptions, where performance was largely associated with long-chain compounds, to a more complete understanding of how engineered activated carbon can deliver across a broader PFAS spectrum.

The program is designed to support organisations in validating treatment performance under real-world conditions, with a focus on how pore structure, accessibility and material design influence outcomes.

Launching in May, the pilot program provides a structured pathway to assess adsorption performance, operational considerations and long-term treatment outcomes using sustainable activated carbon solutions.

Join Bygen at OzWater 2026

As PFAS challenges become more complex, the need for technically robust, scalable and lower-impact treatment solutions continues to grow. OzWater 2026 provides an opportunity to engage with the latest research, validate approaches and explore how activated carbon is evolving to meet these demands.

Visit Booth S07 to learn more about Bygen’s approach to sustainable activated carbon and its role in supporting effective PFAS treatment across a wide range of applications.