CETCO’s FLUORO-SORB® wins WEF’s 2026 Innovative Technology Award for PFAS remediation
CETCO, a subsidiary of Minerals Technologies Inc., has been recognized for its innovative FLUORO-SORB® adsorbent, which has been awarded the Water Environment Federation’s (WEF) 2026 Innovative Technology Award. The award honors CETCO’s FLUORO-SORB® for its effectiveness in addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in various water sources, including drinking water, landfill leachate, wastewater, and contaminated soil and groundwater.
FLUORO-SORB® is a proprietary, bentonite-based adsorbent technology designed to remediate PFAS, commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” which pose significant health and environmental risks. Barry Shadrix, CETCO’s Global Director of Water and Remediation, expressed his company’s honor and pride in the achievement. "We are delighted to receive this prestigious award," said Shadrix. "PFAS contamination affects millions of people, and we are committed to providing effective solutions to mitigate this global issue."
The FLUORO-SORB® adsorbent is noted for its versatile applications and cost-efficiency. It allows for lower capital installations and has a high capacity, making it a practical choice for municipalities and organizations. FLUORO-SORB® is particularly effective because it can be used in various remediation systems, including flow-through filtration, permeable reactive barriers, in situ stabilization, soil solidification, and sediment capping. The technology has been installed in numerous full-scale applications and has been vetted by leading research universities and field studies, confirming its effectiveness.
"We are honored to have our FLUORO-SORB® adsorbent recognized by WEF," said Shadrix. "This award underscores the importance of our work in addressing PFAS contamination and highlights the significant impact our technology can have on communities and the environment."
Founded as a global, technology-driven specialty minerals company, Minerals Technologies Inc. (NYSE: MTX) sources, manufactures, sells, and distributes a wide range of minerals and mineral-based products. The company reported global sales of $2.1 billion in 2025 and employs 4,000 people across 34 countries. The FLUORO-SORB® technology is just one of the many innovations that demonstrate CETCO’s commitment to addressing critical environmental challenges.
CETCO’s FLUORO-SORB® adsorbent is now recognized as a leading solution in the ongoing battle against PFAS contamination, marking a significant step forward in environmental remediation efforts.