A new technology for removal and recovery of coagulants from water clarifier sludge has been optimized at laboratory scale pilot plant level. The process is based on the use fibrous exchangers showing good kinetic and thermodynamic performance toward coagulant species (Al, Fe) present in the acidic leachate (pH 3.5) from water clarifier sludge. The innovation allows for the solution of the environmental problem related to clarifier sludge disposal (residual solids after metals leaching are safely applied to land), and quantitative recovery of coagulants to the water potabilisation operations