Deep Tech Takes: BioHalo
Startup snapshot
Who: BioHalo
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
What: A deep tech startup using biofluorination to create sustainable, high-performance materials that can replace harmful PFAS chemicals.
Founders: Nicolas Krink, Johann Liebeton, Albert De Maria, and Pablo Nikel, founded in 2023.
The technology
PFAS rose in popularity for their durability, heat resistance, and ability to repel water and stains. They’re in everything from coatings and electronics to clothing and medical devices. PFAS are called “forever chemicals” for a reason: with extraordinarily long half-lives, they don’t break down, and their toxicity endangers both human health and the environment. In 2022, the European Environment Agency reported that human exposure to PFAS is estimated to cost between €52 billion and €84 billion annually in health-related expenses.
BioHalo has found a way to keep the performance and ditch the PFAS problem.
Their platform harnesses microorganisms to produce bio-fluorinated materials through a biological process, yielding monofluorinated compounds that avoid the PFAS-defining CF₂ and CF₃ moieties. This process happens in conditions without high -temperatures, toxic by-products, or hazardous solvents. By carefully controlling how and where fluorine is added, BioHalo can fine-tune the material’s properties without the “forever chemical” effect.
BioHalo's platform technology can deliver a biodegradable polymer (F-PHB) with PTFE-like water repellency while cutting greenhouse-gas emissions by roughly 60%. Additionally it can deliver monofluorinated molecules, such as fluoro-adipic acid, designed to upgrade properties of other conventional materials, while maintaining biodegradability standards.
Where it matters most
BioHalo’s products have potential in several industries relying on PFAS and face growing regulatory pressure to find alternatives. They’re already exploring opportunities in:
Coatings and films: where performance and environmental standards are under increasing scrutiny, as well as the semiconductor industry.
Industrial and defence applications: where durability can’t come at the expense of safety.
As well as additives: for traditional polymers to adjust properties
By offering solutions that work with existing systems, BioHalo explores a transition to safer, more sustainable materials without compromising quality.
What‘s next for BioHalo
The team is scaling production, launching industrial pilots, and securing the certifications needed to bring biodegradable bio-fluorinated polymers to market by 2027, paving the way to replace PFAS with high-performance, sustainable alternatives.
Connect with BioHalo
BioHalo is part of INAM’s network of deep tech startups building scalable solutions in advanced materials. To explore their technology or get in touch with the team, visit Biohalo on LinkedIn, biohalo.io or contact them at johann@biohalo.io.
Join our community
BioHalo is part of INAM’s network of deep tech startups building scalable solutions in advanced materials. INAM connects startups, corporates, and researchers materials innovation reaches the real world application. Learn more about our services here. Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news.