10179378Recovering Critical Metals from UK Pickling Acids (Feasibility)ClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKSteel production in the UK generates large volumes of "pickling acids" -- liquid wastes created when steel surfaces are treated to remove oxides and prepare them for further processing. These spent solutions are classified as hazardous and are expensive to manage, but they also contain valuable metals such as nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, vanadium, tungsten, tin, and chromium. At present, most treatment routes neutralise the hazard but fail to recover these metals, meaning valuable resources are lost and disposal costs remain high. This project will explore a more resource-efficient approach. By analysing representative waste samples from UK pickling and steel processors, the work will identify the types of metals present and test innovative methods for recovering them. The focus will be on nickel, which is both valuable and identified as a critical raw material for the UK, with chromium detoxification carried out in parallel to reduce hazardous classification. Where possible, the project will also investigate opportunities to recover other critical elements, including cobalt, molybdenum, vanadium, tungsten and tin. The aim is to show that these difficult wastes can be transformed from a costly liability into a new domestic source of strategic raw materials. Doing so could reduce the UK's reliance on imported critical metals, cut waste treatment costs for steel processors, and support the transition to more circular and sustainable manufacturing. The project is designed as a short feasibility study running from February to March 2026\. It will deliver laboratory test results, a map of the variability of different pickling waste streams, and a roadmap for future pilot-scale development. These outcomes will help build the case for larger follow-on projects and for eventual adoption of new treatment methods across the UK steel sector. By turning hazardous wastes into valuable resources, the project contributes to national goals on critical minerals resilience, net zero, and sustainable industry.