Speaker
Description
Waelz clinkers (slags), generated during the thermal treatment of zinc-bearing secondary resources in rotary kilns, represent a significant stream of industrial waste containing iron, calcium, silicon, and other valuable components. However, on a global scale, a large proportion of these materials are still landfilled, posing both environmental and economic challenges1,2. The limited capacity for landfilling, the high cost of disposal, and the strict requirements for the handling of hazardous waste such as these slags - necessitate the development of sustainable solutions based on the principles of the circular economy.
Based on theoretical analysis, literature data, and preliminary laboratory experimental results, this paper discusses potential routes for recycling and metallurgical valorization of Waelz clinkers. Their potential is assessed primarily in the context of pyrometallurgical technologies for the recovery of iron and accompanying metals, as well as alternative applications in construction materials or as additives in clinker and ceramic products3. The need for further thermodynamic studies and modeling of high-temperature behavior is emphasized as a key step toward the development of efficient and sustainable processing technologies.
