eXo membranes
The transition to a circular economy requires new technologies capable of treating highly polluted industrial waste streams. These streams often cannot be treated using existing filtration technologies, such as conventional membranes, and are therefore typically discharged untreated or incinerated.
eXo membranes, a KU Leuven spin-off, is tackling this challenge with its patented, exceptionally robust membranes. These membranes can withstand aggressive cleaning without losing performance and can purify even the most challenging industrial streams, including water that would irreversibly damage conventional membranes.
The unique robustness of eXo’s filters opens up two key opportunities. First, it enables the circular treatment of industrial streams that were previously considered impossible to purify. Second, in the longer term, these membranes could replace highly energy-intensive thermal separation processes such as distillation, potentially reducing energy consumption by up to 90%. This could be a major step forward for the efficient recovery of valuable substances, particularly in the mining, chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
The spin-off in development is led by Dr Ir. Rhea Verbeke, who developed the epoxy membranes, and Laurent Hubert, whose background spans engineering and AI start-ups. Their shared vision: “No stream left behind.”
“I have always been fascinated by the connection between energy and water. Water and energy are intrinsically linked, and the impact of water treatment extends to both people and nature - two sides of the same coin. The challenge we face as a planet is immense, and I see eXo as our contribution to addressing it.
It is an incredible opportunity and privilege to finally bring more than ten years of research conducted at KU Leuven into industry. The support of the SE’nSE Fund is essential: it allows us to validate our technology much faster with industrial partners and, in turn, accelerate its path to market.”
Rhea Verbeke
Co-founder of eXo membranes
