Xu Kangfu started working at the Division of Air Pollution and Its Control within the Department of Environmental Engineering, engaging in the research and technology development of air pollution prevention and control. His research interests included comprehensive prevention and control of acid deposition, regional SO₂ emission control, technology development of combustion sulfur fixation and flue gas desulfurization process equipment, organic gas purification, biogas desulfurization, etc. He retired as a researcher in 2007.