The Client’s Need:
Nynäs is a Stockholm-based oil company specialising in the manufacture of specialty oils and
bitumen products. The company was founded almost 100 years ago and served as Sweden’s
first oil refinery, powering the country during WWII. The current oil refinery operation faces
the challenge of disposing of waste sludge – a mixture of oil, water, and sulfuric acid. This
sludge is produced as a by-product of oil refinement and is difficult to treat with
environmentally friendly solutions.
Our Pilot:
In May 2024 we launched our one-year pilot with the client to investigate how MycoMine’s
innovative approach could potentially solve the facility’s needs. Following tests on the sludge
specific to Nynäs refinery, we found the main component to be a solid hydrocarbon base
mixed with soil. The pH was highly acidic – between 0 and 1, meaning surrounding
ecosystems would be at high risk of damage if the sludge were not contained. The aim of this
pilot is to treat between 3-5 tonnes of the acid sludge, adapting our current MycoCube system
to treat the solid sludge material.
Next Steps:
Currently we are at the beginning of this pilot, however our first concern around the highly
acidic nature of the sludge has been allayed. Highly acidic environments are rarely conducive
to efficient growth of organisms, but our fungi appeared to thrive in these low pH conditions.
We will be carrying out regular analytical testing of our samples through our ALS labs to
closely monitor and adapt our solution for the best results. Our aim is to reduce the waste
sludge through mycoremediation to a mixture of biomass (the fungi), water, and gravel,
which can be easily separated - no longer posing a high risk to the surrounding environment.
Broader Vision:
Acidic sludge is a massive problem for oil refineries around the world, with EPA estimates of
an average refinery in the US producing 30,000 tonnes of the mixture per year. Due to the
high acidity, storage tanks corrode quickly, and current disposal measures are not ideal –
relying on either incineration or encapsulation. If we can successfully remediate a large
portion of the hydrocarbons and contaminants in the sludge using mycoremediation, this
could provide a more sustainable solution for the oil refining industry worldwide.