Reapplication Potential of Historic Pb–Zn Slag with Regard to Zero Waste Principles

Abstract

Smelting used to be less efficient; therefore, wastes obtained from historical processing at smelter plants usually contain certain quantities of valuable metals. Upon the extraction of useful metal elements, metallurgical slag can be repurposed as an alternative mineral raw material in the building sector. A case study was conducted, which included an investigation of the physico-chemical, mineralogical, and microstructural properties of Pb–Zn slag found at the historic landfill near the Topilnica Veles smelter in North Macedonia. The slag was sampled using drill holes. The mineralogical and microstructural analysis revealed that Pb–Zn slag is a very complex and inhomogeneous alternative raw material with utilizable levels of metals, specifically Pb (2.3 wt.%), Zn (7.1 wt.%), and Ag (27.5 ppm). Crystalline mineral phases of wurtzite, sphalerite, galena, cerussite, akermanite, wüstite, monticellite, franklinite, and zincite were identified in the analyzed samples. The slag’s matrix consisted of alumino-silicates, amorphous silicates, and mixtures of spinel and silicates. Due to the economic potential of Pb, Zn, and Ag extraction, the first stage of reutilization will be to transform metal concentrates into their collective concentrate, from which the maximum amount of these crucial components can be extracted. This procedure will include combination of gravity concentration and separation techniques. The next step is to assess the Pb–Zn slag’s potential applications in civil engineering, based on its mineralogical and physico-mechanical properties. Alumino-silicates present in Pb–Zn slag, which contain high concentrations of SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, and Fe2O3, are suitable for use in cementitious building composites. The goal of this research is to suggest a solution by which to close the circle of slag’s reutilization in terms of zero waste principles. It is therefore critical to thoroughly investigate the material, the established methods and preparation processes, and the ways of concentrating useful components into commercial products.