SORPTION PROPERTIES OF METALLURGICAL SLAGS

Abstract

Problem. The modern effective way of sewage treatment is sorption technology. The advantages of the sorption process are: high efficiency, the ability to clean multicomponent sewage, ensuring the stability of the absorption capacity of the sorbent and the possibility of its regeneration, ensuring the technology cycle. The economic efficiency of the sorption purification of industrial waste water from pollutants of inorganic and organic origin increases when natural compounds, cheap materials, by-products and waste products are used as sorbents. An urgent problem of integrated use and complete utilization of industrial waste is solved simultaneously. Goal. In order to substantiate the fundamental possibility of use as a sorbent of metallurgical slag for the FeNi alloy production of the Pobuzhsky Ferronickel Plant (PFP), mineral, elemental, and radionuclide composition of slag was conducted. Metho­dology. The methods of the study were X-ray diffraction, gamma-spectrometry, spectrophotometric analysis and electron-probe microanalysis. Results. The absence of toxic elements in metallurgical slag of PFP, the presence of calcium and magnesium aluminosilicates (mineral diopside), the presence of amorphous substances, compliance with the requirements of radiation safety standards (Class I of radiation hazard), and stability in the liquid phase are shown. The sorption activity of slag in relation to organic compounds on the basis of methylene blue dye (MB) was studied. The optimal conditions for the activation of slag are determined: the active agent is a solution of 0.5 M H2SO4; temperature 20 oC. The amount of adsorption of slag in 10 days reaches a maximum of 0.194 mg/g, which corresponds to 96.9 % purification of the solution from the MB. Originality. The fundamental possibility of using PFP slag as a sorbent in relation to organic compounds due to the large surface area and the presence of an amorphous phase is determined. The practical absence of desorption of organic sorbate has been proved. Practical value. Slag of PFP can be used as an adsorbent in technological processes. The advantages of its practical use are solving environmental problems of industrial regions while reducing the volumes of slag dumps and saving water resources.