Czech technology CaviPlasma purifies water at EXPO 2025

At the EXPO 2025 World Exhibition, unique technologies developed at Czech universities or through university spin-offs are being showcased this year. Among them is the CaviPlasma technology, which can remove both chemical and biological contamination from large volumes of water, making this device – originating primarily from Brno University of Technology – a technology with global significance.

This year’s EXPO is taking place in Osaka, Japan, from April 12 to October 13. The Czech Republic is presenting itself as an inspirational country that contributes to a better future through its traditions and innovations. On today’s EDU Day – July 25 – Czechia is highlighting the importance of scientific innovation by showcasing a selection of modern university projects in the Czech National Pavilion.

Brno University of Technology is presenting its CaviPlasma technology in Japan, a device that purifies water using low-temperature plasma. It removes not only chemical pollution such as pesticides or pharmaceutical residues from liquids but also bacteria and viruses. CaviPlasma is suitable for wastewater treatment as well as for preparing plasma-activated water with disinfectant properties, which can be used for surface decontamination in hospitals or for plant protection in agriculture.

“It is the world’s first plasma-based water treatment technology capable of processing truly large, practically relevant volumes,” says Pavel Rudolf from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at BUT (FME). He and other researchers explored how to purify water that retains impurities which biological treatment plants cannot break down. His team focused on the process of hydrodynamic cavitation, where intense pressure waves in water eliminate selected microorganisms. However, this process alone only works on microorganisms and not on chemical pollutants. Therefore, it was combined with a low-temperature plasma discharge in collaboration with experts from Masaryk University. This improved the efficiency of the process and significantly increased the volume of water that can be purified.

Science in Practice

Other similar devices are limited to lab-scale use due to low volume capacity. However, CaviPlasma can purify up to fifteen thousand liters of water per hour, making it viable for practical applications. “Licenses for the CaviPlasma device were sold to two Czech companies. One of them – ABPLAST Group s.r.o. – has already commercialized the technology,” says Rudolf from BUT. ABPLAST Group s.r.o. is currently preparing the device for use in the fourth stage of wastewater treatment at biological treatment plants. “The biggest advantage of CaviPlasma lies in its versatility and cost-effectiveness when integrated into the water treatment process,” says Petr Stiller, Executive and Commercial Director of ABPLAST Group s.r.o.

Representatives of this company, along with expert Pavel Rudolf from FME, are showcasing the unique technology in Japan. “At EXPO, we are presenting the second-generation CaviPlasma unit in dynamic demonstrations. We even had to manufacture a special transformer to convert Japanese electrical current to Czech standards,” says Petr Stiller.

The main goal of the presentation is to popularize Czech science and raise awareness of the technology itself. “We want to let a broader audience know that there is a device capable of addressing the issue of micropollutant removal,” describes the company director. And although EXPO is not primarily meant for business networking, the Czech representatives have already seen interest from several Japanese industrial partners. “We expect even more interest to arise following our EXPO presentation,” adds Rudolf, noting that the technology is not only patented in the Czech Republic but also internationally, including the EU, Canada, and Israel.

Czech Science on a Global Level

The CaviPlasma technology perfectly demonstrates that Czech science has something to offer on the global stage. It benefits from top experts and the ability to connect academic research with societal and industrial needs. According to Pavel Rudolf from FME, Czech experts are capable of developing unique devices – from original ideas to commercial products. However, this wouldn’t be possible without interdisciplinary and industrial collaboration, as finding a company that sees commercial potential and can bring the development to completion is absolutely essential.

“We can be proud that Czech technologies are part of the global world of science and research,” concludes Petr Stiller.

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Published	2025-07-24
Link	https://www.vut.cz/en/sustainability/what-do-we-do/industry-innovation-and-infrastructure/f163596/d297955