Industrial Applications: Slag Treatment
Overview
It is
estimated that between 7.0 and 7.5 million metric tons of steel slag is produced
each year in the United States. Even though
it can be recycled, slag is frequently sent to landfills for disposal.
In
producing steel, iron ore is introduced into a blast furnace. Slag is produced during the separation of the
molten steel from impurities in the furnace, which is comprised of a complex
solution of silicates and oxides that congeals upon cooling. This slag is highly alkaline, with a
pH between 9.5 and 11, and does not retain enough water for plants to
germinate.
There are
multiple forms of slag produced throughout the steel-making process:
- Furnace & Tap: produced during
the initial stages and is the major source of slag aggregate
- Raker: generated by
again adding fluxes to the ladle to melt
- Pit &
Cleanout: consists of slag
that falls onto the floor of the steel plant or removed from the ladle after
tapping
Slag Disposal Site & Landfill Remediation Process
The
procedure for cleaning up a landfill or site where slag has been disposed of
can vary depending on many factors. It can be extremely costly, and some of
these sites end up labeled as a Superfund, due to their high environmental threat
levels.
A basic
outline of the process would follow these general guidelines…
- Environmental
assessment
- Removal of soil
and debris
- Disposing in a
hazardous waste facility
- Capping
contaminated sediments with clean sediments
- Erosion
protection
- Habitat restoration
and redevelopment
To get information on how EnviroBlend can help in remediating these sites - Click Here