Background Nearly all the pipes produced in the European Union require one or more cycles of electrolytic treatment (‘pickling’) during the production process. Mixtures of hydrofluoric (HF) and nitric acids are traditionally used, in quantities varying between 15 and 50 g/l, at temperatures between 25°C and 55°C. The gradual introduction of processes not involving nitric acid has considerably improved air quality, by reducing pollutants in effluents; but these have not reduced quantities of HF acid used or the working temperatures. In particular, the production and management of HF acid raises concerns related both to human health and the environment. A standard pipe-producing plant needs large amounts of concentrated HF, but accidental HF leaks, uncontrolled emissions and high transportation costs represent a significant burden for the companies involved, considering that HF acid and its solutions are classified as H1 (acute toxic category 1) and H2 (acute toxic category 2) in Annex 1 of the EU Directive 2012/82/EU on chemical accidents (Seveso III). Objectives The HFree Life Pickling project aims to develop a new process of electrolytic pickling for duplex and special stainless steel, welded and seamless pipes. The process should be comparable in outputs with current chemical pickling, but it should also not require HF or other acids, and other toxic or harmful substances. It will also reduce the treatment time. This process should therefore represent an industrially-viable alternative to chemical pickling. The project will identify and optimise an electrolytic process, based on applying direct current to the material to be pickled, immersed in a specially conceived electrolytic solution that contains no acids. It will identify parameters for the application of current and find the most suitable electrolyte with the lowest environmental impact, while reaching the same quality levels as the existing chemical pickling. Expected results: A new product, the electrolyte, consisting of a fluid not containing HF acid or other highly toxic substances, which can be used with the application of electricity for pickling steel; A new process, entailing a new treatment solution and a pilot plant or application system, ready for implementation of the electrolytic pickling treatment on an industrial scale; A series of guidelines to define the operating conditions and variables of the process, depending on characteristics of the products treated; A significant reduction in the environmental impact of the pickling process, due to the complete elimination of HF acid and related emissions, with a consequent reduction in indirect risks associated with air pollutants, waste disposal and potential accidents; A significant reduction in the pickling times of the semi-finished and finished products with similar composition and oxide content (at least 70% with respect to current HF solutions); Reduced energy consumption, due to lower temperatures and treatment time; and Surface finish up to sector standards.