Birchtech Demonstrates Utility-Validated Carbon Rejuvenation with Performance Comparable to Virgin Activated Carbon

Carbon Rejuvenation Initiative is a Reactivation Process for Spent Granular Activated Carbon, Intended to Support More Affordable PFAS Compliance

CORSICANA, Texas, Jan. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Birchtech Corp. (TSX: BCHT) (OTCQB: BCHT) (“Birchtech” or the “Company”), a leader in specialty activated carbon technologies for sustainable air and water treatment, today announced progress in its carbon rejuvenation initiative – a reactivation process for spent granular activated carbon (“GAC”) – highlighting successful demonstrations conducted with regulated municipal water utilities that showed thermally rejuvenated GAC performing comparably to virgin carbon in removing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in demonstrations conducted with municipal water utilities at Birchtech Design Centers.

The demonstrations utilized spent GAC sourced from active utility systems and were evaluated against performance benchmarks routinely applied by those utilities. Results met expected treatment standards, which we believe supports the technical and commercial viability of Birchtech Carbon Rejuvenation as an alternative to virgin carbon replacement. Used or "spent" virgin GAC carbon must be landfilled to contain the PFAS contaminants; however, thermal treatment of GAC not only destroys PFAS but allows the GAC to be reused, providing a significantly lower cost approach to PFAS removal.

Birchtech’s carbon rejuvenation process is expected to restore spent granular activated carbon for reuse, reduce reliance on virgin raw materials while lowering total lifecycle costs for customers through shorter transportation distances, reduce disposal requirements, and regional reuse within utility systems. Unlike traditional centralized reactivation models, Birchtech’s Carbon Rejuvenation approach emphasizes regional deployment, aligning with utility priorities around emissions reduction, localized supply chains, capital discipline, rate stability, and infrastructure resilience. As regulatory focus on sustainability and operating efficiency continues to increase, Birchtech believes this regional reactivation model represents a differentiated solution that integrates environmental benefits directly into operating economics and supports broader commercialization opportunities.