From disposal to recovery: rethinking wastewater management
Argos Surface Technologies is an Italian industrial group, leader in surface treatments and coatings – including nickel plating, anodizing, cataphoresis, industrial coatings, polymers, metallization, and galvanic treatments – for metals, plastics and carbon fibre.
The beginning of our partnership reflects the strong conviction of Andrea Siano, Chairman of Argos Surface Technologies, in the groundbreaking potential of Circular Materials’ SWaP technology.
In fact, the collaboration started even before the official founding of the startup. During one of the very first meetings aimed at validating the technological concept behind Circular Materials, Marco Bersani and Andrea Siano met. Andrea was so impressed by the innovative process that he decided not only to personally fund the project, but also to join the Board of Directors.
Since then, Argos ST has become a key technological partner, providing its wastewater streams to test and validate the recovery process across multiple waste stream types.
Through our collaboration, Circular Materials successfully processed 43 m³ of chemical nickel wastewater, recovering more than 99% of the dissolved nickel. Compared to conventional mining and wastewater treatment, this approach resulted in over 80% lower CO₂ emissions—a significant step forward in decarbonizing industrial supply chains.
Most notably, this partnership enabled the recovery of the first ton of nickel under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) Strategic Project framework. This milestone, reached just three months after our official designation, marks the first CRMA Strategic Project in Europe to put recovered nickel and ruthenium back on the market.
By transforming metal-contaminated water from waste into a resource, Argos ST is:
Reducing the environmental and financial burden of waste disposal
Lowering its carbon footprint and improving ESG performance
Strengthening its sustainability reporting and corporate reputation
Diversifying risk related to complex waste management, for streams that can’t be treated with conventional plants
Benefiting from an economically advantageous recovery model compared to current market alternatives
“For us at Argos Surface Technologies, innovation and sustainability are two sides of the same coin. Our collaboration with Circular Materials is a concrete example of circular economy in action: by transferring our wastewater streams to recover strategic nickel, we turn waste into a valuable resource for the energy transition.”
Critical Metals recovery and re-introduction in the industrial process
Founded in 1974, LEM S.r.l. is a long-established company specializing in decorative surface treatments on metal accessories and is considered the core company of the LEM INDUSTRIES S.p.A. Group. The Italian holding brings together several companies operating across different areas of the broad and diverse sector of precious metal recovery, industrial water treatment, and finishing of accessories for major fashion and luxury brands. Today, LEM S.r.l. is widely recognized in Italy for its sustainable industrial model, with a strong focus on innovation and circularity.
The partnership with Circular Materials began in 2021, when LEM was searching for new solutions to improve the sustainable management of its industrial wastewater. Intrigued by the potential of supercritical water technology, LEM engaged with Circular Materials to explore its innovative recovery process.
After a series of validation tests directly at LEM’s facilities, the collaboration proved successful. What started as a technical pilot evolved into a long-term strategic partnership, positioning LEM as one of the first companies in Europe to recover nickel and ruthenium—two critical raw materials—directly from its galvanic effluents.
Successfully treated 11 m³ of wastewater, including:
Achieved recovery rates of >96% for ruthenium and >99% for nickel.
Delivered the recovered ruthenium to Italrecycling for refining into Secondary Raw Materials and then reintroduced into LEM’s production cycle.
Supported the recovery of the first kg of ruthenium under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) Strategic Project framework—a European milestone achieved just three months after Circular Materials was officially recognized as a Strategic Project by the European Commission.
The collaboration with LEM demonstrates how circular innovation can redefine industrial waste management. Key impacts include:
Shifting waste from disposal to recovery: transforming wastestream into valuable inputs.
Reducing consumption of water and reagents at LEM’s internal treatment plant.
Unlocking value from ruthenium, a platinum group metal (PGM) usually discarded with no recovery potential.
Closing the loop by reintroducing ruthenium into LEM’s production chain with a 99.6% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to virgin ruthenium mined and refined.
Enhancing ESG performance and strengthening sustainability reporting with measurable results.
“When we first tested Circular Materials’ technology at our facilities, we saw immediate results on real production streams. Today, we can validate a process that recovers nickel and ruthenium—two metals essential to our production. This project shows how innovation can integrate even into invisible processes, shaping a more responsible industrial model.”
“At LEM we believe innovation must go hand in hand with safety and environmental responsibility. This project reinforced our company culture, proving that even waste—if managed properly—can become a precious resource.”
“In LEM we found a partner with a clear vision: transforming an environmental challenge into an industrial opportunity. They immediately recognized the potential of our technology and saw their effluents not as waste, but as a resource. This mindset laid the foundation for a strong and result-driven partnership.”
