What Chromafora does

Chromafora AB is a Swedish cleantech company, founded in 2009-2010 by PhD researchers from Stockholm University (Gaston Lavén and Martin Kullberg), that develops and commercializes patented water-treatment technologies built on proprietary selective chemistry. Its core products are SELPAXT — a chemical-enhanced ultrafiltration system that removes up to 99.7% of long-, short-, and ultra-short-chain PFAS from complex water matrices including landfill leachate, industrial process water, and firefighting training ground runoff, generating only 0.1% residual waste versus 25-30% for conventional methods; SELMEXT — a selective metal-extraction platform capturing more than 99% of target heavy metals and enabling value-metal recovery (gold, zinc, arsenic, lead, cadmium); a lower-cost flocculation technology achieving up to 95% PFAS removal; and a cyanide-free thiosulfate gold-leaching process reaching up to 92% recovery. These are delivered as configured treatment systems or as modular plug-in containerized units via a partnership with Containertjänst.

Chromafora earns revenue through a mix of one-time equipment sales of configured treatment systems, multi-year managed-service and operational commitments bundled with installations, recurring supply of proprietary chemicals (with up to 96% reagent recycling reducing customer consumption), and technology licensing (e.g., SELPAXT licensed to ECT2, a Montrose Environmental subsidiary). The go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales via dedicated Sales Directors for the Nordics and International markets — preceded by lab-scale verification and on-site pilots — with channel partners (Turbin in the Netherlands, Containertjänst in Sweden, new partners in Germany and the Netherlands) and participation in water-treatment events (IFAT, WEFTEC, Aquatech, PFAS conferences, Business Sweden Catalyst).

The company serves waste-management operators and landfills (primary segment, including Ragn-Sells, PreZero, and municipal VafabMiljö), mining and metals companies (LKAB, Björkdalsgruvan), industrial facilities with PFAS contamination, and recycling/secondary-materials recovery operations across Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. Operations are anchored in Hägersten/Stockholm (HQ), Slagelse (Denmark, post the December 2025 acquisition of Montrose Denmark, renamed Chromafora Denmark ApS), and Brussels (opened 2025). The company employs approximately 33 people as of January 2026 and ranked 25th in Deloitte's Sweden Technology Fast 50 (4th in greentech) on the strength of 1,215% revenue growth from 2020-2023.

Name

Chromafora

Legal name

Chromafora AB

Website

https://chromafora.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chromafora is a Swedish cleantech company selling patented SELPAXT and SELMEXT water-treatment systems that remove PFAS and heavy metals from landfill leachate, industrial process water, and mine water for waste-management operators, mining companies, and industrial customers across the Nordics and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Water Treatment Systems

NAICS

Remediation Services (562910), Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320), Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

PFAS & Emerging Contaminants Removal (AFFF/Trace Organics) (EUANADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Wastewater & Effluent Treatment Services (BPALAHAD), Groundwater Extraction, Treatment & Discharge (Pump-and-Treat, reinjection) (BPALAKAF), Process Water & Effluent Treatment (Water Recycle, AMD Treatment, Neutralization) (IMAKALAI)

Keywords

• Water treatment systems
• PFAS removal technology
• Heavy metal extraction
• Industrial water purification
• Mine water treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Solna

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Water Treatment Equipment Sales: Chromafora designs, manufactures, and sells customized water treatment systems (SELPAXT, SELMEXT, flocculation) configured for each customer's specific water streams and contaminant profiles. Systems are delivered as container-based or full-scale installed units.
2. Operational Service & Maintenance: Chromafora provides full service and operational commitments for treatment installations, including technical support, chemical deliveries, monitoring, and ongoing system optimization. This creates recurring service revenue for the company.
3. Technology Licensing: Chromafora licenses its proprietary technologies (SELPAXT, SELMEXT) to partners. ECT2, a subsidiary of Montrose Environmental Group, has entered into a licensing agreement to enable scale and growth across Europe. Licensing may include technology deployment and commercialization rights in specific territories.
4. Chemical Supply: Chromafora supplies proprietary chemicals required for its selective treatment processes, including those used in SELPAXT and SELMEXT systems. The company emphasizes that up to 96% recycling of catalytic reagents is achievable, reducing ongoing chemical consumption costs for customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Chromafora designs, manufactures, and sells patented water treatment systems — primarily SELPAXT for PFAS removal (up to 99.7% removal of ultra-short, short, and long-chain PFAS) and SELMEXT for selective heavy metal extraction and value metal recovery (over 99% metal capture). Systems are delivered as containerized or full-scale installed units to waste management operators, mining companies, and industrial facilities, with bundled operational service and chemical supply.

Product overview

Chromafora offers a portfolio of patented water treatment technologies built on proprietary chemistry: SELPAXT (advanced PFAS removal using chemical-enhanced ultrafiltration achieving up to 99.7% removal), SELMEXT (selective heavy metal removal and value metal extraction for circular recovery), and a Flocculation module (cost-effective PFAS removal at up to 95%). These technologies are delivered as standalone treatment systems or via mobile containerized units, enabling customers to remove PFAS and heavy metals from complex water streams while recovering valuable resources for recycling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SELPAXT: Patented water treatment technology for removal of PFAS (both long and short-chain) from various water streams including landfill leachates, industrial process water, and firefighting training grounds water. Uses chemical-enhanced ultrafiltration with proprietary selective chemistry.
• SELMEXT

Products and services

• SELPAXT Patented advanced water treatment technology combining chemical-enhanced ultrafiltration with proprietary selective chemistry to capture up to 99.7% of long-, short-, and ultra-short-chain PFAS from contaminated water streams including landfill leachate, industrial process water, and firefighting training grounds. Achieves up to 1000x concentration factor with only 0.1% residual waste.
• SELMEXT Patented selective metal extraction technology for removal of heavy metals and extraction of value metals (gold, zinc, arsenic, lead, cadmium) from water. Captures over 99% of individual target metals and enables recovery of valuable materials from mining waste, landfill leachate, and industrial effluents for recycling and reuse.
• Flocculation Technology Simpler, lower-cost PFAS removal alternative using flocculation that removes up to 95% of PFAS. Can also be used to pre-treat leachate before PFAS removal and to remove heavy metals and other contaminants. Requires no specialized equipment and is simple to operate and maintain.
• Container-Based Treatment Systems Mobile plug-in containerized water treatment systems developed with partner Containertjänst, fitted with insulation, electricity, lighting, heating, and fans. Enable rapid deployment at landfills and remote industrial sites at lower installation cost than fixed buildings, with direct connection to existing leachate systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 99.7% PFAS removal (long, short, and ultra-short chain)
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Montrose Environmental Group / ECT2coreTechnology or Integration · 20 January 2026Chromafora acquired 100% of Montrose Environmental Group Denmark (renamed Chromafora Denmark ApS), gaining key talent and expertise in PFAS treatment. Montrose became an investor and shareholder in Chromafora, beginning an expanded collaboration. ECT2, a Montrose subsidiary, licensed Chromafora's proprietary technology to enable scale and growth across Europe. This creates both a technology licensing relationship and a strategic equity investment.
• Turbin Industrial Water SolutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTurbin is Chromafora's trusted partner in the Netherlands, hosting customer seminars and promoting SELPAXT technology to industrial companies, water utilities, and technology experts. Organized a seminar in Rijen, Netherlands in September 2025 where Chromafora presented SELPAXT capabilities.
• ContainertjänstsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwedish container solutions provider that develops and supplies containerized treatment systems for Chromafora. Containertjänst provides containers fitted with insulation, electricity, lighting, heating and fans, then ships to Chromafora's suppliers for machine assembly. Collaborates on developing concept solutions for different container needs.
• Luleå University of TechnologysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPre-treatment and leaching phases of Chromafora's thiosulfate gold leaching pilot project were primarily carried out by Luleå University of Technology, Sweden. Contributed academic research capabilities to the project.
• Björkdalsgruvan ABsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthern Europe's largest gold mining company collaborated with Chromafora on scale-up study for non-toxic gold extraction from mining materials (March 2022 - March 2025). Pilot conducted at Björkdalsgruvan mine in northern Sweden.
• New Partners in Germany and NetherlandscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew channel partners signed in Germany and Netherlands in 2025 to support SELPAXT deployment and market expansion across Europe, aligned with EIB funding goals.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Veolia Environnement: Global leader in water and wastewater treatment services, including hazardous waste and emerging contaminant management. Competes with Chromafora in the industrial/municipal PFAS remediation market but at vastly greater scale and with broader service offerings.
• SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions: Global water and waste management company providing industrial water treatment, chemical solutions, and consulting services. Overlaps with Chromafora in industrial wastewater and PFAS-related treatment for European municipal and industrial customers.
• Xylem (Evoqua Water Technologies): Major water technology company that acquired Evoqua in 2023. Competes with Chromafora in advanced water treatment and PFAS remediation for municipal and industrial customers, with broader portfolios including pumps, filtration, and digital water solutions.
• Ovivo: Canadian-headquartered water treatment specialist serving industrial and municipal markets with filtration and advanced treatment systems. Comparable to Chromafora as a mid-sized technology provider targeting similar end-customers with proprietary water treatment platforms.
• Calgon Carbon (Kuraray): Largest activated carbon manufacturer for PFAS and water treatment applications. Competes with Chromafora in PFAS remediation via a different (adsorption-based) technical approach, dominating conventional water treatment infrastructure globally.

Regional players

• Organo Corporation: Japanese water and industrial process treatment company with proprietary ion exchange, membrane, and chemical technologies. Comparable in offering advanced water treatment to industrial customers but primarily serving Asian markets rather than competing directly with Chromafora in Europe.

Emerging players

• 374Water: U.S.-based emerging player using supercritical water oxidation for PFAS destruction. Competes with Chromafora in PFAS remediation for industrial and municipal customers using a destruction-based rather than separation-based approach.
• Gradiant: U.S.-based water treatment company focused on industrial wastewater and resource recovery with proprietary selective chemistries and membrane technologies. Comparable in scale and technology positioning to Chromafora, with overlapping focus on complex industrial water streams.

Direct peers

• Fluence Corporation: Provider of decentralized water and wastewater treatment systems using MABR and other proprietary technologies. Comparable to Chromafora as a mid-sized technology company selling configured treatment systems to industrial and municipal customers, though with a different technical focus.
• Montrose Environmental Group: U.S.-based environmental services company whose Danish subsidiary (now Chromafora Denmark ApS) is a direct licensee of Chromafora's SELPAXT technology. Comparable as a remediation and PFAS/water treatment services provider targeting similar industrial and municipal customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chromafora

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Chromafora