Waste-to-water innovation named KiwiNet finalist

A University of Auckland spinout can transform some of our most toxic waste streams into clean water and usable by-products with a deceptively simple input recipe: heat, water and air.

That venture, Nurox Hydrothermal, has now been recognised for its innovative approach and strong commercialisation prospects, being named a finalist in the 2026 KiwiNet Awards.

The awards celebrate excellence in turning New Zealand research into commercial ventures. 

Hazardous waste is a growing global challenge. Healthcare, manufacturing and agriculture generate complex waste streams that are costly, difficult and environmentally damaging to dispose of. In New Zealand, the healthcare sector alone contributes an estimated 3–8 percent of national carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, with waste disposal playing a significant role.

Other waste streams - including contaminated plastics and ‘forever chemicals’ such as PFAS - remain particularly challenging to treat using conventional methods.

Nurox offers an innovative solution: a hydrothermal process that neutralises hazardous waste and transforms it into water, inert by-products, and saleable acetic acid, a common industrial platform chemical.

The science behind it is precise, using heat, water and air under controlled high-pressure conditions and temperature to break down persistent compounds that conventional methods struggle with.

The low emission process provides a more sustainable, circular alternative to traditional waste treatment.

"What makes this technology exciting is its ability to completely break down some of the most challenging waste and contaminants while creating opportunities for resource recovery," says Professor Saeid Baroutian, founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Nurox. 

Baroutian, who is a professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, began researching hydrothermal processing in 2011. Over the last 15 years, that work has progressed from fundamental research through technology development, process optimisation, and engineering design for commercial validation, ultimately giving rise to Nurox Hydrothermal.

Nurox CEO Duncan Stewart and COO Alex Hannon joined the venture in 2023, and the company was formally established in 2024 to commercialise the University research, supported by Auckland UniServices.

Equity partnerships with Tennex, parent company of Interwaste have helped move the technology toward real-world deployment. And now, Nurox’s first commercial-scale plant is being designed for deployment in Auckland.

"Seeing our research progress from the laboratory studies to the designing and commissioning an industrial-scale plant is incredibly rewarding," says Baroutian.

"Being recognised as a KiwiNet Awards finalist reflects the work of a much broader team who have transformed the science into a commercial technology."

The 2026 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards will be held on Thursday 8 October at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland.