Treatment of copper industry waste and production of sintered glass-ceramic

Abstract

Copper waste is iron-rich hazardous waste containing heavy metals such as Cu, Zn, Co, Pb. The results of leaching tests show that the concentration of these elements exceeds the Turkish and EPA regulatory limits. Consequently, this waste cannot be disposed of in its present form and therefore requires treatment to stabilize it or make it inert prior to disposal. Vitrification was selected as the technology for the treatment of the toxic waste under investigation. During the vitrification process significant amounts of the toxic organic and inorganic chemical compounds could be destroyed, and at the same time, the metal species are immobilized as they become an integral part of the glass matrix. The copper flotation waste samples used in this research were obtained from the Black Sea Copper Works of Samsun, Turkey. The samples were vitrified after being mixed with other inorganic waste and materials. The copper flotation waste and their glass-ceramic products were characterized by X-ray analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy and by the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure test. The products showed very good chemical durability. The glass-ceramics fabricated at 850 degrees C/2 h have a large application potential especially as construction and building materials.

Utilization of flotation wastes of copper slag as raw material in cement production

“…could be exploited for its potential use in the production of blended cements, abrasive tools, pavement, abrasive, concrete, cutting tools, tiles, glass, roofing granules, asphalt concrete aggregate. Although the suitability of copper slag for the production of a sintered glass-ceramic [7], brown or black inorganic pigments [8], fill materials for land reclamation [9] and unglazed floor tiles [10] was investigated, the cementitious properties and utilization of copper slag as a partial replacement for Portland cement have received the most interest with limited success [11][12][13][14][15]. Although the steel slag appears to have been recently considered in the production of Portland cement clinker [16], the use of copper slag as cement raw material e.g.…”

“…Approximately 2.2 tonnes of slag is generated for each tonne of copper produced with a world-wide generation of annually about 24.6 million tonnes of slag [2]. Disposal of such large quantities of copper slag often presents waste management problems since copper slag is classified as hazardous waste because it contains heavy metals [7]. Due to the ever strict environmental regulations, waste treatment costs and limited availability of disposal sites, the development of new and cost-effective waste management practices has become increasingly significant in recent years.…”

Immobilization of iron rich steel industry waste and products characterization

“…Two of the most popular methods for 14 stabilization and neutralization are the incorporation of the waste 15 in a solid matrix [1][2][3] and its eventual vitrification [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. 16 Vitrification of the iron rich wastes from steel industry processes 17 converts them into dense glass-like materials which can be used as 18 new raw materials for different types of industries.…”

Mechanisms Controlling Copper Transport in Natural Soils

“…Additionally, trace metals are commonly concentrated in biosolids especially in those sludges from wastewater treatment plants receiving stormwater or industrial discharge (Coruh et al 2006;McKenzie et al 2009;Clary et al 2011;Al-Saydeh et al 2017;Hussain et al 2017). For example, sludges from these treatment plants potentially contain relatively high concentrations of trace metals such as iron, zinc, lead and copper.…”