Problem: Steel grinding swarf is a type of steel scrap generated during machining processes, generated in quantities of around 10 M tons globally. Due to its high oil content, it is classified as hazardous waste (EU), and flammable (not suitable for re-melting). Few recycling options are available, with the most common disposal solutions being landfilling or incineration. Machining companies are incentivised by stakeholders to increase their recycling rate, and the new CSRD will make such efforts more visible. Additionally, landfilling and incineration is costly, where some actors pay around 500EUR / ton for disposal. The cost is also increasing, spurred by the amendment (2018/850) of the landfilling directive (1999/31/EC) that introduces restrictions on landfilling from 2030 of all waste that is suitable for recycling or other material or energy recovery. Regarding incineration, grinding has a low energy recovery rate of around 8%. As a result of increasing electricity prices, this alternative is also increasingly costly. 
 

Solution: Our patent-pending technology can in a cost efficient manner process grinding swarf into iron (II) chloride, a valuable resource in the production of water treatment chemicals. Iron (III) Chloride, or Ferric Chloride, is most commonly produced from virgin iron ore, where Anferra aims to supply a circular alternative with equal purity. The technology has in lab scale been proven to recycle 80% of the iron in the grinding swarf into a iron (III) chloride with purity in line with the European standards (EN 888:2023). 

USP: What makes our solution unique is we can recycle a waste that is today largely landfilled, into a high purity iron coagulant. Our process is the only recycling option based on hydrometallurgy, unlike other recycling efforts for grinding swarf, which usually aim to mechanically preprocess and remelt it. Our process guarantees a high recycling rate, and is also self-heating, therefore energy consumption is low. With our process and business model, we implement new material pathways to increase resource efficiency across industries.