Can Magnets Clean Up Australia’s PFAS Mess?

ViridAU joins researchers to trial magnetic PFAS removal as tougher water rules push demand for real solutions

2 Feb 2026

Australia’s response to so-called forever chemicals is moving into a more operational phase as regulators tighten expectations on water and waste quality, pushing utilities and industry to show how contamination will be reduced in practice.

As standards around per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) become more demanding, the environmental services sector is shifting from monitoring and risk assessment towards technologies that could operate at scale within existing facilities. Councils, utilities and industrial operators face growing pressure to outline credible treatment pathways rather than rely on interim controls.

Against this backdrop, consultancy ViridAU is expanding beyond advisory work into technology development, supporting the scale-up of a magnetic system designed to remove PFAS from wastewater and biosolids. The move reflects broader interest in treatment approaches that can be integrated into current infrastructure without major redesign.

PFAS are highly persistent in water, soil and waste streams, making them expensive and difficult to manage. Conventional treatment methods, such as high-temperature destruction or advanced filtration, can be effective but are often energy-intensive or challenging to retrofit. This has increased attention on simpler systems that could sit alongside existing processes.

The magnetic treatment under trial binds PFAS to a specialised material that can then be separated using magnets. The technology has been developed with researchers at the University of Queensland and is being assessed with a view to use in operating wastewater plants. Testing and validation are being supported by partners including ALS as the project works towards regulatory compliance.

For ViridAU, the project signals a strategic shift. Clients are increasingly seeking support that spans the full lifecycle of PFAS management, from identifying contamination to assessing emerging treatment options that align with regulatory expectations. Industry advisers say firms that can combine technical advice with credible delivery pathways are likely to be better placed as standards tighten.

Regulators are also focused on the risk of shifting PFAS from one medium to another, such as from water into sludge. By concentrating contaminants into a smaller, controlled stream, magnetic separation could help limit downstream exposure, though this remains under scrutiny.

Challenges remain around cost, reliability and scale, and progress will depend on continued trials and independent verification. Even so, collaboration between consultants, laboratories and researchers is accelerating as regulatory pressure reshapes how Australia’s water sector addresses one of its most persistent pollution problems.