Iride Acque

Iride Acque S.r.l., an Italian innovative SME and Benefit Company, operates in the industrial wastewater treatment sector with a pronounced focus on water reuse. Founded in 2015 by a group of managers with over two decades of industrial experience, including co-founders Monica Casadei (CEO and President of the Strategic Committee) and Matteo Folloni (CEO), the company was established to address a market gap for effective industrial water purification technologies. The founders recognized that industries were compelled to treat their wastewater on-site but lacked adequate solutions, as existing technologies were primarily designed for urban, not industrial, effluents.

The core of Iride Acque's business is its patented technology, EMER (Enhanced Magnetic Heterogeneous Reactor), which employs an advanced catalytic oxidation process. This system was adapted from a technology originally used for air purification. A key feature is the proprietary nanotechnological catalyst produced by recovering materials from spent batteries, which significantly reduces costs and exemplifies a circular economy model. This process allows for the on-site purification and disinfection of even the most difficult industrial wastewater, enabling its reuse within the same production cycles. The company's business model centers on designing, building, and selling these treatment plants, which are modular and can be customized for different flow rates. Plant sizes are up to 85% smaller than traditional alternatives, are fully automated, and can be managed remotely, leading to cost savings of up to 75%.

Iride Acque serves a diverse client base, including end-users, EPC Contractors, and multi-utilities across various sectors like wineries, craft breweries, and cheese producers. Revenue is generated from the sale of these purification systems. The company has successfully raised capital through multiple equity crowdfunding campaigns on the Opstart platform to strengthen its commercial structure, marketing, and expand its service range. The firm also offers services related to traditional biological and chemical oxidation treatments and various filtration technologies, positioning itself as a comprehensive partner for industrial water management.

Keywords: industrial wastewater, water reuse, catalytic oxidation, circular economy, water purification, nanotechnological catalyst, green technology, water management, benefit company, cleantech