Tahir Sofilić

Characterization of Ladle Furnace Slag from Carbon Steel Production as a Potential Adsorbent

A promising type of steel slag for applications is the ladle furnace (LF) slag, which is also known as the basic slag, the reducing slag, the white slag, and the secondary refining slag. The LF slag is a byproduct from further refining molten steel after coming out of a basic oxygen furnace (BOF) or an electric arc furnace (EAF). The use of the LF slag in further applications requires knowledge of its characteristics. The LF slag characterization in this paper has been performed using the following analytical methods: chemical analysis by energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), mineralogical composition by X-ray diffraction (XRD), surface area properties by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and the Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) methods, surface chemistry by infrared absorption (FTIR) spectroscopy, and morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the main compounds are calcium, silicon, magnesium, and aluminium oxides, and calcium silicates under their various allotropic forms are the major compounds in the LF slag. Surface area properties have shown that the LF slag is a mesoporous material with relatively great BET surface area. The ladle furnace slag is a nonhazardous industrial waste because the ecotoxicity evaluation by its eluate has shown that the LF slag does not contain constituents which might in any way affect the environment harmfully.

Radioactivity of some building and raw materials used in Croatia

Radioactivity of some building and raw materials used in Croatia In the present study, the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K in some building and raw materials used in Croatia were measured by using a gamma-ray spectrometer with the HPGe detector. The average activity concentrations of the studied different building and raw materials ranged from 11.6 ± 1.7 (concrete) to 251.2 ± 25.7 Bqkg-1 (GBFS), 14.0 ± 2.7 (concrete) to 54.4 ± 8.3 (coal fly ash) and 147.2 ± 19.0 (concrete) to 773.7 ± 82.0 Bqkg-1 (tuff) for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. Radium equivalent activity, activity concentration index, absorbed gamma dose rate indoor due to the external exposure and corresponding annual effective dose were determined to estimate the exposure risk arising due to the use of these building and raw materials.

Defining of EAF steel slag application possibilities in asphalt mixture production

Abstract Electric arc furnace (EAF) steel slag, generated from carbon steel production process, is the most interesting from the asphalt technology point of view. This paper aims to explore the feasibility of utilizing steel slag as aggregates in asphalt mixtures. Characterization of EAF slag was carried out through examination of its physical and chemical properties with special emphasis on chemical and structural characteristics. Optical Microscopy (OM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS) and γ-spectrometric analysis were employed to study the texture, morphology and composition of steel slag. Volume properties of steel slag were also evaluated as compared to those of natural aggregates. For this purpose the specimens of EAF slag were taken from the regular production processes in CMC Sisak, Croatia, Steel mill. The results which were obtained by testing geometric, physicalmechanic properties, as well as the properties of duration on the spe...

EAF Steel Slag Application Posibilities in Croatian Asphalt Mixture Production

This paper demonstrates the results of testing basic physical and chemical properties of steel slag generated in the steel mill of CMC Sisak d.o.o., Croatia, with the purpose of its characterization as the type of waste, i.e. by- product intended for recycling in other industries. Special attention has been directed at investigating the possibilities of it being used as substitute for natural mineral aggregates when producing asphalt mixtures. The results which were obtained by testing geometric, physical-mechanical properties, as well as the properties of duration on the specimen of electric arc furnace steel slag, have satisfied the conditions for manufacturing mixtures of the tested steel slag and natural aggregate which can be used in asphalt production. In comparison to the natural carbonate and silicate aggregates which are used in asphalt mixtures on highways and roads with heavy traffic, the examined steel slag has equally good physical-mechanical properties. Within the framework of this project, test fields have recently been constructed. The existing wearing course was replaced by an AC 11 type of asphalt, in one lane with conventional natural carbonate aggregate and in the other two lanes with slag aggregate from CMC Sisak (0/4, 4/8, 8/11). The results of measurements of skid resistance on the section constructed using natural aggregate, and the section made using steel slag aggregate, were comparable. By means of laboratory analyses and in situ monitoring it should be possible to prove that asphalt composites containing slag have sufficient durability, and can achieve and maintain the required surface characteristics for road traffic safety.

Leaching properties of electric arc furnace dust prior/following alkaline extraction

This study was carried out to determine the appropriate treatment of electric arc furnace (EAF) dust prior to permanent disposal. The total heavy metal content as well as heavy metal leaching from EAF dust was investigated in five composite samples obtained from three Croatian and Slovenian steelworks. In order to recover zinc and reduce its leaching from the dust, all five samples were submitted to alkaline extraction with 10 M NaOH. Reduction of Cr (VI) to Cr(III) was conducted using FeSO4· 7H2O solution. The elements Mn, Fe, Cu, Ni, and notably Zn and Pb, exhibited highest mobility during toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP). Comparing to TCLP extracts of initial EAF dust, zinc was found to be over 15 times lower and lead over 200 times lower in TCLP extracts of EAF dust processed by the alkaline leaching method. Since Cr (VI) exceeded its permissible level in the DIN 38414-S4 extracts of both initial and alkaline digested dust, its reduction to Cr (III) prior to permanent disposal is necessary. The recovery of zinc from EAF dust treated with alkaline agent ranged from 50.3% to 73.2%. According to phase analysis, recovery yield showed dependence on zincite/franklinite ratio. The results of the study indicate that permanent disposal of EAF dust require the following procedure: alkaline digestion (followed by leachate purification and alkaline zinc electrolyses), chromate reduction (if necessary), solidification of leaching residue and its testing using the leaching analyses.

Application of alkaline solid residue of electric arc furnace dust for neutralization/purification of electroplating wastewaters

The purpose of this work was development of an appropriate procedure for the neutralization/purification of electroplating wastewater (EWW) with alkaline solid residue (ASR) by-product of the alkaline extraction of zinc and lead from electric arc furnace dust (EAFD). Removal efficiency of ASR at optimum purification conditions (pH 8 and mixing time; 20 minutes) for the elements Pb, Cr (VI), Cr (III), Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn were 94.92%, 97.58%, 99.59%, 99.48%, 97.25% and 99.97%, respectively. The concentrations of all elements in the purified wastewater were significantly lower in relation to the upper permissible limit for wastewaters suitable for discharge into the environment. The remaining waste mud was regenerated in the strong alkaline medium and successfully applied once again for the neutralization/purification of EWW. Removal efficiencies of heavy metals accomplished with regenerated waste mud were comparable to these achieved by original ASR. Elemental concentrations in the leachates of the waste mud were in acordance with regulated values.