Anferra has developed a proprietary process that transforms hazardous grinding sludge from steel production into ferric chloride for water treatment and hydrogen as an energy carrier. The process enables the recovery of up to 90 percent of the iron while using less energy and can result in a net impact of minus 470 kilograms of CO₂ equivalents per tonne compared with conventional waste management. One important outcome is that, over time, the material could be reclassified from hazardous waste to a secondary raw material.

Grinding sludge is a finely divided waste material generated during metalworking and consists of metal particles, abrasives, and contaminated fluids. It is classified as hazardous waste and is currently largely managed through incineration or landfill disposal. Globally, approximately 12 million tonnes of grinding sludge are generated each year.

With the investment, Anferra is now entering the next phase of its development – scaling up the technology in pilot environments and taking the next step from verified technology to industrial application.

“With the support of our investors, we can take the next step from verified technology to industrial application. Our ambition is to reduce the need for landfill while increasing resource efficiency and circularity globally. We see great potential in transforming this material from a problem into a resource, both environmentally and economically,” says Ebba Adolfsson, CEO of Anferra.

The investment brings together complementary expertise from the three investors.

At Yuncture, we look forward to continuing to follow Anferra’s development and wish the team every success in the next phase of their journey.

Photo: Sara Drougge, Chalmers Ventures.