Innovative sludge treatment & resource recovery for sustainable steel

Purpose and Goals

The project is part of Impact Innovation - Net Zero Industry and focuses on validating an industrial calcination process that enables the safe recycling of metals and fluorides from pickling sludge. By preventing the formation of Cr(VI) and returning valuable resources such as Ni, Cr, Mo, Mn and CaF₂ to stainless steel production, the project contributes to increased resource efficiency, lower climate impact and reduced landfill requirements.

Expected effects and Resultsoch resultat

The project delivers industrial trials demonstrating safe, economically viable and scalable recycling of pickling sludge. Expected effects include:

• Reduced CO₂ emissions and hazardous waste
• Cost savings through substitution of virgin materials
• Strengthened competitiveness for the steel industry.

The project also establishes circular and scalable business models for long-term industrial application, contributing to both Sweden's and the EU's net zero emissions targets.

Planned approach and implementation

iSTRESS 2.0 consists of five work packages:

• WP1 material preparation and characterisation
• WP2 lab validation and optimisation
• WP3 industrial trials on a pilot scale
• WP4 sustainability assessment and business models (led by RISE)
• WP5 project management, dissemination and policy linkage

The project brings together technology suppliers, industry players and research partners in Sweden and internationally, with the aim of enabling rapid implementation of solutions in real production.