Copper slag characteristics and applications: A review

Abstract

Copper slag includes elements such as iron, alumina, calcium oxide, and silica, which are generated during the pyro metallurgical manufacture of copper from copper ores. Slag is produced at a rate of 2.2 tons every tonne of metal produced. Dumping or dumping such massive amounts of slag causes environmental and space issues. Several investigators and copper-producing units across the globe have attempted to investigate the potential use of copper slag during the last two decades. Copper slag's favorable physico-mechanical properties may be used to produce products such as cement, fill, ballast, abrasive, aggregate, roofing granules, glass, and tiles, in addition to recovering precious metals via different extractive metallurgical methods. This article examines the properties of copper slag as well as different techniques for metal recovery and the manufacture of value-added products from copper slag, including pyro, hydro, and pyro-hydrometallurgical approaches.