FILTRENE technology for the conversion of hazardous chemical waste into valuable materials
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Grafren AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 300 000 |
| Project duration | November 2019 - October 2020 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Innovative Startups |
| Call | Innovative Startups step 1 autumn 2019 |
Important results from the project
The idea of this project was to verify the business potential of the new material - sorbent for toxic metals in the waste water streams. Such a metals are present in different type of water (mining and industry) in different concentrations, and are a severe problem for the environment. We have validated the possibility to collect those metals and recover them, thus making a real value out of the waste. We have tested several types of water, in chemical manufacture (China), ore mining (Chilie) and water treatment plant (Sweden).
Expected long term effects
As the outcome of the project, we have identified both technological and econmic challenges and possibilities. First, certain customers pain is to purify the water and remove the poinson, without its further recovery. This requires reconsidering the business model and recycling actions. For all the customers it was found that the efficiency of purification and collection, depends a lot on the totoal contamination of the water: any other present particles decrease the capacity of filter for target chemicals, and therefore every efficiency case must be considered separately.
Approach and implementation
During the project we have identified 4 most promising customers, which were interested in our technology. Companies were located in different countries and within different segments (production, mining and industrial water treatment). We have studied the features of customers water streams and prepared the necessery filter prototypes for them. Because of pandemy it was not possible for us to visit the companies and install our equipment there, therefore we were accepting the real water samples and purifying them in our laboratory. The results were discussed with the customers.