MAX IV Synchrotron Highlights Our Arsenic Upcycling Research for a Circular Economy

Our ongoing work on turning toxic arsenic-laden water treatment waste into valuable materials was recently featured in The Value of Toxic Waste for an Inclusive Circular Economy, a science news article published by the MAX IV Synchrotron. The piece explores how innovative chemistry and advanced synchrotron characterization are helping rethink the fate of arsenic waste and its role in more sustainable material systems.

Arsenic removal from groundwater is a standard practice worldwide, but managing the resulting arsenic-rich sludge remains a major challenge. The MAX IV article discusses how research at the Balder beamline, in collaboration with partners across Europe, the U.S., and India, has laid the groundwork for converting this waste into amorphous metallic arsenic, which is a form that holds promise for use in alloys, clean energy systems, and semiconductor applications.

This upcycling approach doesn’t just address a hazardous waste problem; it opens up new possibilities for inclusive circular economy strategies that valorize unavoidable waste streams while exploring high-value material pathways. The article also highlights plans under an EU Water4All grant to extend this work toward arsenic-based 2D materials like arsenene, further bridging water research and advanced materials science.

Read the full MAX IV article: The value of toxic waste for an inclusive circular economy on the MAX IV website. https://www.maxiv.lu.se/article/the-value-of-toxic-waste-for-an-inclusive-circular-economy/