A sustainable transition also flows through water: Altair Chemical at Ecomondo 2025

From November 4 to 7, Altair Chemical took part in Ecomondo 2025, Italy’s leading event dedicated to ecological transition, circular economy, and the green & blue economy. Within this context, the company presented two key contributions focused on innovation in water treatment and the valorization of industrial by-products.

As part of the session “Industrial Symbiosis in the Era of the Digital and Green Transition”, organized by Ecomondo’s Scientific Technical Committee together with ENEA and the SUN (Symbiosis Users Network), Altair Chemical showcased the digital poster titled “SUN – P20: From Steelmaking Waste to Ferric Chloride”. The presentation illustrated the company’s industrial process for converting steelmaking by-products into a chemical coagulant used in water treatment, in a fully circular symbiosis model. The project was recognized by the Fondazione Sviluppo Sostenibile with the 2024 Ecomondo Award for Circular Economy, and was highlighted as an example of Italian excellence in the application of circular economy principles.

Later that day, Andrea Gialdrone, Head of the Water Treatment Division at Altair Chemical and Vice President of INCOPA, delivered a presentation titled “Climate Impact of Different Process Configurations for Nutrient Removal in Urban Wastewater Treatment Plants under the New UWWTD Directive (2024/3019),” within the Water Cycle Area program.

His presentation summarized the findings of a life cycle assessment (LCA) study conducted by IVL (Swedish Environmental Research Institute) on behalf of INCOPA, comparing biological and chemical phosphorus removal processes in treatment plants. The study revealed that chemical precipitation results in a lower climate footprint than biological treatment, due to reduced electricity consumption and higher biogas production, which can replace fossil fuels such as natural gas.

The main findings of the study can be summarized as follows:

• Chemical precipitation reduces electricity consumption and increases biogas yield, supporting the achievement of energy neutrality;
• Iron-based coagulants, such as Altair Chemical’s ferric-ferrous chloride, are more sustainable than aluminium-based alternatives;
• While the overall contribution of coagulants to the carbon footprint remains small, it is still significant when comparing process options;
• The energy neutrality target set by the UWWTD Directive (at least 100% of energy used to be generated by 2045) appears more attainable with chemical treatment configurations.

These findings further strengthen Altair Chemical’s role as a technological and environmental leader in the water sector, and confirm the value of ferric-ferrous chloride as an efficient and sustainable solution for the treatment of both urban and industrial wastewater.