Abstract
The article discusses the prospects of recycling the most massive wastes of aluminum production (namely, used cathode blocks of electrolyzers, gas treatment dust, gas treatment residue, and flotation tailing). It have been indicated the volumes of wasteaccumulation and a special attention has been focused on the need of their disposal with a view to improve the environmental conditions of the territories adjacent to the industrial zones. Specific characteristics of the generated waste have been determined, which indicate the possibility of their secondary use and transfer from waste to by-products.Existing technical solutions relevant to the issue have been reviewed, and the reasons preventing their implementation have been explained. The most promising methods of waste processing to be carried out successfully in the current economic conditions have been identified. Spent cathode blocks can be used at ferrous metallurgy enterprises (in blast furnaces and converters) as a substitute for expensive coke and fluorspar, and finely dispersed waste can be used at cement enterprises. The areas have been determined that in the future will significantly increase the volume of processing and the demand for these wastes of the aluminum industry in technological processes of ferrous metallurgy. The possibilities for cooperation between aluminum refineries and ferrous metallurgy enterprises, as well as other related industries, were emphasized in detail.
Highlights
The prospects of aluminum industry are closely connected to development of resource conservation and environmental technologies aimed at efficient processing of secondary materials and industrial waste utilization
Industrial waste of the aluminum industry constitutes about 20 % of all the refuse generated in the production of non– ferrous metals in Russia [1]
The material costs associated with the preparation of the coal lining as well as its negative impact on the anode technology exceed the economic effect related to utilization of this type of waste
Summary
The possibility of using fine materials of the slurry fields in production of cement is considered asthe most promising and economically feasible option [5]. Based on the studies conducted at Angarsk Cement Plant (“Angarskcement”, JSC), an optimal amount of the fine materials additive introduced into the raw slurry was determined, and the economic effect of reducing the volume of conventional fuel used in the process was demonstrated. Used cathode blocks can be partially utilized, and the valuable components may be returned to the process of aluminum production [11]. The fluorine content in the carbon blocks equals around 15 %, which is enough to ensure their successful application in ferrous metallurgy where various techniques are used to accelerate slag formation during steel smelting. It can be achieved by introducing the materials reducing the slagmelting point into the charge. In that case, fluxing effect is slightly delayed in comparison with the use
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