OxyMem

What OxyMem does

OxyMem, founded in 2013 as a spin-out from University College Dublin's Biofilm Engineering Laboratory, develops and commercialises Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR) modules for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. The technology uses dense, pore-free PDMS (silicone) hollow-fibre membranes through which oxygen diffuses directly into a biofilm on the membrane surface, eliminating the bubble-diffusion step used in conventional activated sludge. Each stainless-steel module houses approximately 1.6 million metres of microbore tubing delivering up to 2,200 m² of membrane surface area, with a patented biofilm control system that periodically removes excess growth via coarse-bubble scouring. Configurations include OxyFAS (IFAS drop-in modules for retrofitting existing tanks without draining), OxyFILM (standalone packaged biofilm phase), the Generation 4 module, and lab/mini units used for trials.

The company's commercial offering is anchored in drop-in hardware sales to enterprise wastewater operators, supported by multi-year extended warranties (10 years for municipal, 5 years for industrial customers) that introduce a recurring-revenue component. Pricing is quote-based on plant requirements and is not publicly disclosed, and the go-to-market relies on direct enterprise field sales supplemented by regional channel partners such as Aquafy Water Technologies and Island Water Technologies in Canada. End customers include major utilities such as Severn Trent (UK), Anglian Water (UK), Sabesp (Brazil), Vandcenter Syd and Aarhus Vand (Denmark), alongside engineering firms (Jacobs) and industrial operators including a Spanish beverage producer and a Dow-linked Brazilian lagoon upgrade. Since commercial launch in 2014, more than 20 MABR systems have been deployed across the UK, Ireland, Canada, Sweden, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, China, Denmark, New Zealand, Japan and the Netherlands.

OxyMem was acquired by DuPont in 2019 and now operates as part of DuPont Water Solutions, with DuPont announcing a multimillion-euro transformation of the Athlone manufacturing facility in March 2022. The company is headquartered in Athlone, Ireland, operates a membrane production line in Leixlip, and currently employs between 51 and 100 people. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the US market is currently not served following a 2016 competitor patent dispute.

Name

OxyMem

Legal name

OxyMem Limited

Website

https://oxymem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

OxyMem, an Athlone-based UCD spin-out acquired by DuPont in 2019, commercialises Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR) modules that deliver bubble-less aeration and simultaneous nitrification-denitrification for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants, achieving up to 75% energy savings versus conventional systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wastewater Treatment Equipment

NAICS

Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing (333413)

SIC

Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564)

akta.pro primary industry

Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Equipment (Clarifiers, Aeration, Membrane Systems) (IMAHAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Effluent Polishing & Filtration (MBR/UF/RO/GAC) (EUANADAL)

Keywords

• Membrane aerated biofilm reactor
• Wastewater treatment systems
• Bubble-less aeration technology
• Biological wastewater treatment
• Municipal wastewater equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Athlone

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. MABR Module Sales: Sale of MABR modules (stainless steel units containing membrane arrays) for wastewater treatment capacity upgrades. Modules are sold as 'drop-in' or 'IFAS style' solutions for existing wastewater treatment plants.
2. Pilot/Trial Units: Lab scale offerings, mini MABRs for field use, and large-scale packaged systems for onsite demonstration.
3. Extended Warranties: Warranties of up to 10 years available for municipal applications and 5 years for industrial applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

OxyMem designs, manufactures, and sells Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR) modules for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants. The modules use dense gas-permeable PDMS (silicone) hollow fiber membranes that deliver bubble-less oxygen transfer to biofilm, enabling up to 75% energy savings and simultaneous nitrification-denitrification. Products are offered in drop-in IFAS (OxyFAS) and packaged (OxyFILM) configurations for capacity upgrades in existing activated sludge tanks.

Product overview

OxyMem offers a modular MABR (Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor) platform for wastewater treatment. The core MABR technology uses gas-permeable hollow fiber membranes to support biofilm growth, enabling bubble-less oxygen transfer and simultaneous nitrification-denitrification. The product portfolio consists of the MABR platform with two main deployment configurations: OxyFAS (IFAS drop-in modules) for retrofitting existing activated sludge tanks, and OxyFILM for standalone packaged applications. Additional offerings include Generation 4 Modules with specified physical dimensions, OxyLab and Mini MABR units for testing, and a proprietary Design Tool for system sizing. The technology is protected by multiple patents covering biofilm control and membrane design.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MABR (Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor) Core wastewater treatment technology using gas-permeable hollow fiber membranes that support biofilm growth for biological treatment. Features bubble-less oxygen transfer for up to 75% energy savings and simultaneous nitrification-denitrification. Sold to municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plant operators.
• OxyFAS (IFAS Drop-in Module) Integrated Fixed-film Activated Sludge system deployed as drop-in modules into existing activated sludge tanks to enhance treatment capacity without civil modifications or tank draining. Targets municipal and industrial WWTPs seeking incremental capacity expansion.
• OxyFILM (Packaged Add Phase) Standalone biofilm arrangement where MABR modules operate independently as a complete packaged treatment system without suspended biomass. Used for plants requiring a self-contained biofilm-only treatment phase.
• OxyMem MABR Generation 4 Module Fourth generation stainless-steel MABR module measuring 2.1m long x 1.05m wide x 2.1m high, weighing 950kg dry, with a volume of 4.6m³ and up to 2200m² of membrane surface area containing 1.6 million metres of microbore tubes.
• OxyLab (Lab Scale MABR) Lab-scale MABR unit for laboratory testing and evaluation of MABR technology performance ahead of full-scale deployment.
• Mini MABR Compact MABR unit designed for field use and preliminary testing at customer sites prior to full-scale deployment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 75% energy savings compared to conventional bubble aeration
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• DuPontcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019DuPont acquired OxyMem in 2019, expanding its portfolio of water and wastewater treatment technologies. DuPont Water Solutions now owns OxyMem, providing global distribution reach and resources for MABR technology expansion. In March 2022, DuPont announced multimillion euro transformation of Athlone production facility.
• Aquafy Water Technologies Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian sales and service company focused on innovative water and wastewater treatment equipment. Specializes in polymer make down, chemical feed systems, chlorine gas safety, process control and monitoring instrumentation, odour control, and MABR technology. Serves municipal and industrial clients.
• Island Water TechnologiessecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian water technology company focused on providing low-energy, chemical-free solutions for decentralized wastewater treatment. OxyMem technology compliments their product goals perfectly.
• Severn TrentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading UK water utility serving 8.5 million customers. Working closely with OxyMem for number of years, facilitating MABR technology development by providing testing facilities at Minworth WWTP. Continues to assess best opportunities for MABR technology upgrades.
• JacobscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGlobal engineering firm with Technology Leader for Jacobs' Wastewater Treatment Practice actively looking for transformative technologies. Applying MABR technology for clients around the globe. Partner in Triple Carbon Reduction project.
• The Dow Chemical CompanysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration began in 2016 with Sabesp and OxyMem to test MABR potential for upgrading existing lagoon from secondary to tertiary treatment at Aruja plant near São Paulo, Brazil.
• Vandcenter Syd (VCS) DenmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish water utility partnered with Aarhus Vand to demonstrate MABR benefits at Ejby Mølle WWRF starting summer 2018. Measured nitrous oxide emissions comparing MABR to conventional activated sludge.
• Aarhus Vand DenmarksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish water utility partnered with VCS Denmark to demonstrate MABR technology benefits at Ejby Mølle WWRF.
• Anglian WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK water company leading Triple Carbon Reduction project (£3.5M+) in partnership with OxyMem, Element Energy, Jacobs, universities. Project aims to eliminate N2O emissions, achieve 85% energy reduction, and validate green hydrogen production via electrolysis.
• Element Energy LtdsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy consultancy partner in Anglian Water Triple Carbon Reduction project focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and electricity use.
• Cranfield UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Triple Carbon Reduction project providing research expertise in wastewater treatment and environmental engineering.
• University of East AngliasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Triple Carbon Reduction project contributing research capabilities.
• Brunel UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Triple Carbon Reduction project providing research expertise.
• UK Water Companies (Severn Trent, Scottish Water, Northern Ireland Water, United Utilities)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple UK water companies partnering in Triple Carbon Reduction project to validate MABR technology across water sector.
• NovaUCDcoreOthersNovaUCD supported formation of OxyMem in 2013 from UCD research on MABR technology.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Aqwise: Israel-based provider of biofilm carriers and MBBR/IFAS solutions for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plant upgrades. Comparable to OxyMem's biofilm-based approach for capacity expansion in existing tanks, though focused primarily on attached-growth carriers rather than membrane aeration.
• HUBER Technology: Germany-based manufacturer of wastewater treatment equipment including fine bubble aeration systems, MBR modules, and biological treatment solutions for municipal and industrial customers. Comparable to OxyMem in providing drop-in aeration and biological treatment modules for retrofit applications.

Direct peers

• Organica Water: Hungarian-headquartered provider of Fixed-Biofilm Activated Sludge (FAS) and Activated Biofilm Reactor (ABR) technology for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. Most direct MABR/biofilm-based competitor to OxyMem, also retrofitting activated sludge tanks with biofilm carrier modules for simultaneous nitrification-denitrification.
• Ovivo: Canada-based pure-play water and wastewater treatment equipment manufacturer serving municipal and industrial customers with membrane bioreactors (MBR), aeration, and biological treatment systems. Comparable in targeting activated sludge tank upgrades and energy-efficient aerobic treatment, with similar enterprise field-sales motion to OxyMem.
• Fluence Corporation: Provider of decentralized and packaged wastewater treatment plants, MABR modules (originally licensed Fluence MABR technology), and water reuse solutions for municipal and industrial clients. Most directly comparable to OxyMem in MABR product offering and decentralized/industrial target segments, including beverage/food and smaller municipal applications.
• Aqua-Aerobic Systems: US-based manufacturer of biological and aeration equipment for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, including MBBR/IFAS systems and aerobic biological treatment processes. Overlaps OxyMem in drop-in biofilm/aeration module retrofits for activated sludge plants and offers comparable energy-efficiency-focused retrofit solutions.

Broad incumbents

• Kurita Water Industries: Japanese industrial water and wastewater treatment solutions provider serving semiconductor, pharmaceutical, and industrial customers with biological treatment and process water systems. Overlaps with OxyMem's industrial process wastewater segment (food & beverage, pharma, refining) and offers competing biofilm and aeration upgrades.
• Veolia Water Technologies: Global water and wastewater treatment technology and services arm of Veolia, offering a broad portfolio including biofilm (AnoxKaldnes MBBR/IFAS) and municipal/industrial plant upgrade solutions. Comparable in serving the same municipal and industrial wastewater customers with biofilm and aeration technologies, but as part of a much wider water-treatment portfolio.
• SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions: Global water and wastewater treatment solutions provider, including biofilm, MBR, and aerated treatment systems deployed at municipal and industrial sites. Overlaps with OxyMem on municipal nutrient removal and industrial process water, though as part of a full water services platform rather than a focused MABR specialist.
• Xylem (Evoqua): Global water technology company that acquired Evoqua Water Technologies in 2023, offering a broad portfolio spanning aeration, MBR, disinfection, and biofilm-based wastewater treatment (e.g., SANITAIRE, Wedeco). Competes with OxyMem in municipal and industrial water reuse, nutrient removal, and energy-efficient plant upgrades, though from a much broader portfolio and global sales scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/oxymem
• Facebookfacebook.com/oxymem
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oxymem

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OxyMem