Metal Morph closes its pre-seed round to advance plans to turn wastewater plants into circular supply chains. This round was co-led by Green Angel Ventures and Sustainable Ventures, alongside participation from Aqcelerator and Found Capital.
Aluminium and iron-based chemicals are key to water and wastewater treatment, but the industry largely relies on a linear model in which chemicals are sourced from virgin materials, used once and then disposed of. This leaves operators exposed to volatile chemical prices while also incurring the cost of disposal.
Metal Morph is addressing this challenge by recovering aluminium and iron-based chemicals from wastewater and returning them to the treatment process, reducing waste and reliance on primary supply chains.
Moletsane Mophethe founded Metal Morph to make essential resources more accessible and affordable after having witnessed the consequences of water scarcity in Lesotho.
As Mophethe explains: “Growing up in a place where access to clean water was uncertain instilled within me an appreciation of how fragile access to essential resources can be. With Metal Morph, I want to help change that reality. Water infrastructure is one of the most overlooked industrial supply chains in the world. By harnessing them correctly, we are fundamentally reshaping the supply of essential chemicals to reduce the cost of water production.”
The technology is deployed onsite in modular, containerised units that are retrofit compatible to deliver purity and economics that single-step approaches have struggled with. Having completed 50+ live tests across three drinking water treatment plants, they have demonstrated a 90% metal recovery capacity at a chemical purity of 95%. This circular approach cuts greenhouse gas emissions by up to 89% compared to conventional manufacturing, while reducing operating costs for utilities by as much as 26%.
The solution has already garnered notable interest. Partnerships with six UK water utilities are in place, including with Anglian Water and United Utilities. Combined, these agreements cover 56% of the UK water market. Using the newly secured funding, Metal Morph will accelerate its resource recovery technology, including the rollout of industry pilots and further validation from water utilities and industrial partners.
Cam Ross, CEO at Green Angel Ventures, says: “The early interest in Metal Morph reflects the growing pressure on water utilities and industrial operators to curb rising costs while improving sustainability. The company’s differentiated process enables the recovery of essential materials at high purity, with the potential to deliver meaningful commercial and environmental benefits across the water sector and beyond.”