By combining expertise in bio-based materials with agile product development, AQVA Finland and VTT are enhancing water purification, utilising biomass-sourced materials to create highly efficient, sustainable water filters.
Key facts
In response to increasingly stringent EU water quality directives and the global imperative for supply chain resilience, AQVA Finland sought to upgrade the filtration capacity of their shower filters. The objective was to investigate replacing conventional filter components with advanced, domestically sourced bio-based materials.
VTT provided AQVA with world-class expertise in bio-based materials, introducing different qualities of cellulose and biochar to existing activated carbon filters.
The integration of cellulose into the activated carbon matrix yielded a substantial 30% increase in oxidised iron removal efficiency, while domestic biochar demonstrated even superior adsorption capabilities. The collaboration accelerated AQVA's R&D cycle and reinforced their position within the European bioeconomy network.
AQVA Finland is the leading water purification company in Finland, with operations based on scientific research, continuous product development and their own top-of-the-line laboratory and meticulous quality control. The company brings affordable and convenient water filtering and cleaning solutions to homes, cottages, workplaces and restaurants. Headquartered in Helsinki, AQVA Finland currently employs 15 professionals.
The sustainable shift in global water treatment
While the global water purification industry is broadly seeking to transition away from fossil-based materials and energy-intensive processes, true breakthroughs require pioneering material science. VTT drives the development of cutting-edge solutions utilising bio-based, renewable materials – such as highly specialised lignocellulosic nanomaterials and functionalised biochar derived from agricultural and forestry side streams.
Leveraging expertise in biomaterial engineering, VTT designs these advanced adsorbents to possess unique physicochemical properties, including high porosity and large surface area. This makes them exceptionally effective at removing heavy metals, organic pollutants and microplastics from water and enables the industry to develop cutting-edge, cost-effective purification technologies that protect public health while minimising the environmental impact.
Overcoming the limits of traditional filter components
While AQVA had already successfully developed top-tier drinking water filters, shower filters presented a unique physical and chemical challenge. The company had patented a horizontal shower filter model with two small filtration cartridges inside. However, unlike a faucet filter where water flows slowly, a shower filter deals with high flow rates.
“We had reached the limits of enhancing the filtration efficiency with our own product development and needed external help in improving the chemistry of the filtration component itself,” explains Otto Manninen, Head of Water Purification at AQVA.
Furthermore, Manninen adds that AQVA strategically aimed to utilise domestic bio-based materials and raw materials derived from the forest industry. By localising their material sourcing, AQVA is actively mitigating supply chain vulnerabilities and enhancing strategic autonomy at both the national and EU levels.
Transitioning away from a heavy reliance on foreign raw materials – particularly the dominant supply channels in China – ensures greater traceability and ESG compliance, while simultaneously decoupling critical water purification infrastructure from geopolitical risks and volatile international delivery schedules.
Unlocking new solutions with biomass-sourced materials
To push the boundaries of their filter components AQVA joined the FinnCERES flagship programme, jointly formed by VTT and Aalto University. VTT brought specialised expertise in renewable and biomass-sourced materials to the table. The project led to further collaboration as part of the Business Finland co-innovation project SUPER (Superior performance of cellulose-based materials through controlled fibre-water interactions), which focuses, for example, on examining the water uptake capacity of cellulose-based materials.
The research team focused on optimising the overall performance of traditional activated carbon filters through the integration of biomass-sourced components, such as cellulose. Furthermore, they explored the advanced alternative of completely substituting the activated carbon with biochar to push the boundaries of filtration efficiency.
Tekla Tammelin, Research Professor at VTT, summarises the core value of the joint efforts: “It's a major achievement how we’ve been able to introduce a new kind of raw material base for AQVA’s application. Combining the basic raw material research carried out in the joint projects with AQVA’s own specific research efforts has allowed us to reach significant results.”
VTT's expertise and resources have enabled us to advance our vision of becoming a comprehensive European water purification company.
A 30% leap in iron removal efficiency
Through the collaboration, VTT and its partners provided AQVA with several critical assets to accelerate their growth:
Access to world-class knowledge in renewable, bio-based materials and their chemical modification
Supply of new, experimental raw materials provided in quantities suitable for immediate testing and production trials
Utilisation of VTT's specialised infrastructure to manufacture and test materials on a scale beyond the standard lab environment.
The initial results of the collaboration have been very promising, proving that new, bio-based raw materials can successfully capture dissolved substances from water. By adding around 5–7 per cent of cellulose to the activated carbon filter component, the removal of oxidised iron from the water was enhanced by 30 per cent. Furthermore, biochar made from domestic raw materials has obtained even better results.
Fast-tracking innovation from lab to production
Kristian Salminen, Lead of Bio-based products at VTT, highlights the agility of the partnership: “Besides having their own laboratory, AQVA has been able to run production trials with the raw materials provided by us directly with their existing equipment, drastically speeding up the product development cycle.”
Beyond material science, the collaboration provided AQVA with an invaluable network, connecting them with wider value chains and international entities such as the Imperial College London and their world-leading composite expert, Professor Koon-Yang Lee.
“VTT's expertise and resources have enabled us to advance our vision of becoming a comprehensive European water purification company that manages the entire production and supply chain. Our partners at VTT have shown a true passion for their work, making it possible to get things done swiftly and flexibly in an open atmosphere,” concludes Juha Aalto, CEO of AQVA Finland.
