2025 - Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
SIPS2025 Volume 11. Intl. Symp on Iron and Steel, Non-ferrous, Metals, Bioextraction, Molten and Recycling
| Editors: | F. Kongoli, P. Assis, R. Alvarenga, J.A. de Castro, B. Deo, W.F. Santos Jr., S.L. de Andrade, GS. Mahobia, T. Usui, J. Antrekowitsch, A. Charitos, C. Oosterhof, M. Stelter, Z. Wang, A. Dmitriev, M.C. Gomez Marroquin, Y. Gordon, M. Naimanbayev, S. Prakash, V. Tsepelev |
| Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
| Publication Year: | 2025 |
| Pages: | 298 pages |
| ISBN: | 978-1-998384-58-7 (CD) |
| ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
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INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE RECYCLABILITY OF MAGNESIA-CHROMIUM REFRACTORIES FROM THE COPPER AND NICKEL INDUSTRIES
Stefan Steinlechner1; Wolfgang Premm1;1MONTANUNIVERSITÄT LEOBEN, Leoben, Austria;
Type of Paper: Keynote
Id Paper: 33
Topic: 6
Abstract:
The pyrometallurgical production of nonferrous metals such as copper and nickel heavily depends on magnesia-chrome refractory linings. Over the course of their service life, these refractories become infiltrated by molten phases containing not only copper or nickel but also associated metals such as cobalt, lead, tin, and zinc. Depending on the process step from which the refractory material originates, they can also be infiltrated by oxide melts (typically named slag) or sulphide melts (matte). Currently, most spent refractories are disposed of in landfills. However, in the context of resource efficiency and sustainability, there is increasing interest in exploring these waste materials as potential secondary resources. This study investigates spent magnesia-chrome refractories focusing on the recovery potential of the infiltrated metals as well as the refractory material itself. Through detailed characterization and laboratory-scale experiments, the research outlines potential separation and recovery strategies, highlighting both opportunities and challenges associated with their practical implementation.