Paid PFAS Pilots Grow as 3M Commits US$7.35B to Settle Claims

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• BioLargo Inc. said its BEST subsidiary is running two extended, paid PFAS treatment pilots for industrial clients in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, using its Aqueous Electrostatic Concentrator (AEC).
• Industrial clients now make up most of BEST's commercial opportunity pipeline, according to the company.
• The pilots come as PFAS settlements mount, including 3M's November 3 agreement to commit US$7.35 billion over nine years to resolve personal-injury claims.
• BEST's AEC has been removing PFAS from the drinking water of Lake Stockholm, New Jersey, since January 2026, and the company said the treated water continues to meet state and federal standards.
• BioLargo is exploring strategic relationships with financial and operating partners to speed commercialization, while keeping BEST wholly owned.
• Meticulous Research forecasts the global PFAS remediation market will grow from US$4.25 billion in 2025 to about US$14.42 billion by 2036, with industrial facilities the fastest-growing segment.

BioLargo Inc.'s (BLGO:OTCQX) wholly owned subsidiary, BioLargo Equipment Solutions & Technologies Inc. (BEST), is running two extended, paid per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) treatment pilots for industrial clients at BioLargo Engineering's facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the company said in a November 5 release.

Both pilots use BEST's Aqueous Electrostatic Concentrator (AEC) on the clients' own water streams. The results are meant to inform the design of full-scale systems and the clients’ purchasing decisions. The company said industrial applications now make up most of BEST's commercial opportunity pipeline.

"Industrial facility managers increasingly recognize PFAS management as an operational, regulatory" issue, BEST President Tonya Chandler said. "Recent settlements involving 3M and DuPont reinforce the importance of proactive management." She said running the AEC on different water types lets the company answer clients’ questions with actual performance data.

The pilots come as PFAS liabilities pile up for some of the biggest names in industry. On November 3, 3M Co. (MMM:NYSE) agreed to commit US$7.35 billion over nine years to resolve PFAS-related personal-injury claims tied to firefighting foam, BioLargo's release noted.

BioLargo said it sees growing demand for PFAS treatment that is both effective and economical across industrial sectors. Beyond the industrial pilots, BEST's pilot and validation work covers landfill leachate, concentrated brines, industrial pretreatment, soil-washing water, and water reuse.

BEST has a working system in the field. Since January 2026, the company's AEC system has been removing PFAS from the drinking water of Lake Stockholm, New Jersey, under joint monitoring by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "The treated water continues to meet New Jersey drinking water and EPA standards," the company said.

BEST is working with the community to add standard pretreatment to handle the harder source water there. The company said its soil-washing relationship and industrial pilot work are especially relevant to site owners and remediation contractors.

BioLargo is open to outside help bringing the technology to market. "We are actively exploring strategic relationships with financial and operating partners," said President and CEO Dennis Calvert. He said such partnerships could help speed commercialization and expand the company's market reach. BEST will remain wholly owned by BioLargo, and the release did not announce a specific deal.

BEST builds its pipeline through engineering firms, remediation contractors, equipment providers, and sales representatives in North America and internationally. On November 12, Chandler will lead a PFAS 101 MasterClass at the International Water Conference in Orlando, Florida. The company noted that municipal funding and procurement processes can affect project timing.

Oak Ridge Financial analyst Richard Ryan reiterated his Buy rating on BioLargo in a May 18 report. He described the company's operating model as a "hub and spoke format invent/acquire a product, prototype/prove it out, partner with necessary third parties, and commercialize."

Ryan said that bringing technologies to market through separate operating subsidiaries spreads risk. He added that the structure lets BioLargo keep meaningful ownership stakes in businesses aimed at several high-growth markets.

PFAS are "a massive group of thousands of different human-made chemicals" used to make products resist water, grease, and heat, according to the South Carolina National Guard's environmental program. They show up in nonstick cookware, waterproof jackets, food packaging, and firefighting foam. Their defining feature is the carbon-fluorine bond, one of the strongest in chemistry. "Because of these bonds, these chemicals do not break down easily in the environment or the human body," which is why they are known as "forever chemicals." Two of the most studied, PFOA and PFOS, have been linked to potential health concerns including cancer, liver damage, and developmental problems.

Regulation has made cleanup a legal requirement. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2024 drinking water rule set enforceable limits of 4.0 parts per trillion for both PFOA and PFOS. As of mid-2026, the EPA had proposed rescinding standards for several other PFAS, but it left the PFOA and PFOS limits in place. It also proposed giving eligible water systems up to two more years to comply, potentially until April 2031. PFOA and PFOS also remain hazardous substances under the federal Superfund law, which keeps cleanup liability on the table for polluters. Several states have set their own limits, including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Michigan.

Meticulous Research valued the global PFAS remediation market at US$4.25 billion in 2025. It forecasts growth at a compound annual rate of 11.4%, to about US$14.42 billion by 2036. Water utilities are the largest customers today, driven by drinking water rules and settlement-funded projects. The research firm expects industrial facilities to be the fastest-growing segment, citing discharge limits, Superfund liability, and investment in on-site PFAS treatment. That is the segment BEST says now makes up most of its pipeline.

What did BioLargo announce?

BioLargo said its subsidiary BEST is running two extended, paid PFAS treatment pilots for industrial clients at BioLargo Engineering's facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The pilots test BEST's AEC on the clients' own water streams to inform full-scale designs and purchasing decisions.

What are PFAS?

PFAS are thousands of human-made chemicals used to make products resist water, grease, and heat. Their strong carbon-fluorine bonds keep them from breaking down easily in the environment or the human body, which is why they are called "forever chemicals."

Why do the PFAS settlements matter?

Settlements such as 3M's US$7.35 billion agreement and DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva's US$455 million North Carolina deal show the growing financial exposure tied to PFAS. BioLargo said it sees growing demand for effective and economical PFAS treatment across industrial sectors.

Where is BEST's technology already in use?

Since January 2026, BEST's AEC has been removing PFAS from the drinking water of Lake Stockholm, New Jersey, under joint monitoring by state and federal regulators. BEST is working with the community to add pretreatment for the harder source water.

Is BioLargo selling BEST?

No. President and CEO Dennis Calvert said the company is "actively exploring strategic relationships with financial and operating partners," but BEST will remain wholly owned by BioLargo.

What regulations apply to PFAS in drinking water?

The EPA's 2024 rule set limits of 4.0 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS. As of mid-2026, those limits remained in place, and the EPA had proposed giving eligible water systems up to two more years to comply.

What is BEST's next event?

BEST President Tonya Chandler will lead a PFAS 101 MasterClass on November 12 at the International Water Conference in Orlando, Florida.