Abstract
The recent recovery processes of electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) include stabilization within materials with potential uses in the construction sector. The stabilization of EAFD by alkaline activation of different alumina-silicates, resulting in low-cost and environmentally friendly materials. The leaching standards within the different European regulations allow evaluating waste materials and products. This work aims to study the introduction of EAFD in FA–clay geopolymers, assessing the environmental and geochemical behavior in two different scenarios, disposal, and utilization. For it, the compliance equilibrium-based batch test (EN 12457-2) and pH dependence test (EN 14429) have been used. The dosages of EAFD in the geopolymeric matrix are 5% to 20% with curing temperatures of 75 °C and 225 °C. The introduction of EAFD favors the development of the flexural strength. From the environmental point of view, metals related to EAFD, such as Zn, Pb, or Cu, are retained in the matrix. While As or Se, comes mainly from clay, present a high concentration. Therefore, the role of clay should be analyzed in future research. As expected by the high iron content in the EAFD, the iron complexes on the surface of the material are responsible for immobilization of metals in this type of matrix.
Highlights
Electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) is generated from the electric arc furnace production of steel in amounts of approximately 1–2% of the steel produced
The composition of FA, clay, and EAFD were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) in Activations Laboratories (Ancaster, ON, Canada)
The technological behavior of the geopolymer with EAFD has been studied based on its water absorption and flexural strength for the two studied curing temperatures of 75 ◦ C
Summary
Electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) is generated from the electric arc furnace production of steel in amounts of approximately 1–2% (by weight) of the steel produced. 30% of steel production uses electric arc furnaces [1] and approximately 6 million metric tons of EAFD are generated on an annual basis worldwide, and of that amount, only an estimated 2.5 million metric tons are recycled, mainly in the United States, Europe, Taiwan and Japan [2,3]. Includes as EAFD recycling option the pyrometallurgical or hydrometallurgical processes or hybrid of both (Waelz Process). These processes aim, on the one hand, to extract nonferrous metals such as zinc and lead that can be incorporated into other processes, and on the other allow the recycling of the matrix in the steel industry and avoid its disposal in landfills. Despite the high iron content, for waste with less than 15%
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