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Cleaner aluminium recycling, without the hazardous chemistry
A Horizon Europe Innovation Action developing end-to-end aluminium
recycling processes that eliminate cleaning chemicals and cut fluxing
agent use by up to 97%.
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Duration
PARTICIPATION
REPRESENTATION
EU CONTRIBUTION
ABOUT CLEANMAT
THE PROJECT
removal to melt treatment. Recycling aluminium uses only 5% of the energy required to produce it from bauxite. But the process still depends on hazardous chemistry: contaminated scrap is treated with fluxing salts such as sodium chloride, potassium chloride and sodium fluoride, generating salt slag, VOCs, dioxins and fine particulates, and exposing furnace operators to serious risk.
hazardous cleaning chemicals, chemical fluxes and waste by-products, while improving material quality and producing high-performance secondary aluminium.
CLEANMAT brings together seventeen partners from eight countries, spanning universities, research and technology organisations, industrial companies, SMEs and industrial associations. The consortium covers the complete aluminium recycling value chain, from scrap preparation through to high-quality part manufacture, combining depth in metallurgy, process engineering, Al and digitalisation with expertise in sustainability assessment, occupational health and value chain integration. Industrial recyclers and remelters supply real scrap and real operating environments; automotive partners validate the resulting alloy in production parts; and European associations connect the results to the recyclers, refiners and policymakers who will use them.
PROJECT PARTNERS
THE PARTNERS
CLEANMAT TECHNOLOGY
THE TECHNOLOGY
Four innovation areas, working as one process.
Digital thread
An integrated digital framework connecting data across the aluminium scrap value chain, with Al
decision support at every stage.
1
Smart characterisation
Sensor-driven identification and removal of contaminants that bypass upstream sorting, including
copper, steel, zinc and plastics.
2
Pre-treatment and cleaning
Closed-loop thermal treatment that removes greases, oils, coatings and food debris before melting.
3
Melting, refining and conditioning
Near-zero flux refining for induction furnaces, and ultra-low flux refining retrofittable to the rotary,
reverberatory and crucible furnaces that still dominate the industry.
4
CLEANMAT NEWS
LATEST NEWS
CLEANMAT: New EU project to cut emissions and flux use in aluminium recycling through digital sorting, intelligent pre-treatment and advanced melt refining.
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