The use of alternative raw materials is essential for establishing a circular economy in the mineral and ironmaking sectors. Therefore, this study investigates the potential of lime sludge as fluxing material during pelletization and proposes an alternative route for the usage of waste. The pellets were manufactured with different binary basicity values (CaO/SiO2) (0.15-0.45) and bentonite (0.5-0.7 wt%) and fixed carbon (0.5-1.1 wt%) contents. The results demonstrated that lime sludge has significant potential for application in pelletization. Pellet quality was evaluated using drop number, mechanical strength, tumble index, porosity, and kinetic analyses. Pellets with the optimal composition using lime sludge withstood 3.6 drops/pellet, a tumble test of 1.57 wt.%, and a mechanical strength test of 214.83 kgf/pellet and exhibited a porosity of 31.28%. Lime sludge did not influence the reducibility of the iron-ore pellets. In the temperature range of 800-900 °C, the reaction was controlled by diffusion, with Ea between 179.89 and 233.10 kJ/mol.

Abstract The large amount of dust generated in electric arc furnace aligned with its chemical composition makes this dust a potential source of iron in the direct reduction iron process. Thus, the aim of this research is to investigate the reduction of pellets produced with electric arc furnace dust using hydrogen as the reducing agent. The kinetic investigation was examined applying the differential method. In addition, the influence of reducing gas stream and temperature in the reduction process were investigated applying the Forced Stepwise Isothermal Analysis technique. The temperature studied varied from 500 to 1000°C with isothermals in each 50°C. The reducing gas was a mixture of 10% of hydrogen and 90% of argon. Then, the product characterization was carried out via scanning electron microscope and X-ray analysis. A thermogravimetric test showed a mass loss of 42 wt% due to the reduction of iron and zinc oxides. Besides this, the reduction occurred in three steps: 550-650°C, 700-800°C, 850-950°C. Between 550-650°C, the reduction was controlled by a nucleation mechanism with an Ea of 41.1 kJ/mol. In the second step (700-800°C), a mixed control between nucleation and diffusion was obtained with an Ea of 89.1 kJ/mol. Furthermore, a crust of iron was formed around the pellet, which hindered the reducing gas diffusion into the pellet. In the third stage (850-950°C), the formation of a sintered structure was noted, which decreased pore volume. The internal diffusion of reducing gases was determined as the controlling mechanism, with an Ea of 130.9 kJ/mol.

Abstract The feasibility of using common chemicals to separate plastics from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) by froth flotation is investigated. Plastic waste is one of the WEEE polluters and a separation is necessary to recycle it. The most common plastics in electronic industries are acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS). These plastics are difficult to separate due to the similar specific weights and to both being repellent to water. Froth flotation allows for separating particles by the differences in their surface characteristics by selective wetting agents. The common chemicals are ethanol and acetic acid to depress the plastics. The process with 20% weight of ethanol was able to produce a recovery concentrate of HIPS with 98% and ABS with 96%. The process with 40% weight of acetic acid produces a recovery concentrate of HIPS with 96% and ABS with 83%.

Abstract Global generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is increasing quickly. Metals from WEEE can be recovered by using unit operations of chemical engineering. This paper describes a combined hydrometallurgical route (sulfuric oxidant leaching + solvent extraction) to recover copper from printed circuit boards (PCBs). A non-magnetic fraction from comminuted PCBs was used to perform leaching tests at 75ºC for 6 hours in an oxidizing media (sulfuric acid + hydrogen peroxide). In order to separate zinc, aluminum, and copper from the leaching liquor, solvent extraction tests were carried out using D2EHPA. Parameters that influence the process, such as pH, extractant concentration, and the aqueous/organic (A/O) ratio were investigated. Solvent extraction experiments were carried out in two stages: i) separation of zinc, aluminum, and residual iron, and ii) copper separation. The results showed that the leaching obtained around 60% aluminum, 94% copper, 76% zinc, 50% nickel and residual iron from the non-magnetic fraction of PCBs. With the solvent experiments, in the first stage, 100 wt.% zinc, iron and aluminum were extracted at pH 3.5, 2:1 A/O, 10 % (v/v) D2EHPA, while, in the second stage 100% of the copper was extracted at pH 3.5, 1:1 A/O, 20 % (v/v) D2EHPA.

Abstract The study aimed to characterize the mineral wools obtained from wastes of the cutting step of marble and granite, in order to evaluate the possibility of their use on an industrial scale. Mixtures of marble and/or granite wastes were prepared in order to reach the chemical composition of rock and glass wools. The batches were melted in an electric arc furnace in laboratory scale at 1450ºC and casted with water, in order to obtain a higher cooling rate. Characterization work was performed in batches that formed vitreous material, and with superior incorporation of the residues: 11.7% and 14.6% of marble waste with glass wool and rock wool, respectively; 78.3% and 91.6% of an association of marble and granite wastes with glass wool and rock wool, respectively. Computational thermodynamics was used in order to obtain the main phases at 800ºC and determine the liquid and solid content at 1400, 1450 and 1500ºC. In addition, the materials obtained were characterized via chemical analysis using X-ray fluorescence, DTA, X-ray diffraction and SEM. The results indicate that the marble and granite waste are composed mainly of CaO (34.7 wt.%) and SiO2 (66.3 wt.%), respectively. An amorphous crystalline structure was obtained in all tests, indicating that this material can be used as an insulation material. The crystallization temperatures were determined around 800ºC.

The aim of this work was to study the use of slags to desulfurize cast iron. It was proposed to use alumina instead of fluorspar. In addition, marble waste was used instead of lime. Simulations applying Thermo-Calc® software were carried out in order to obtain the theoretical phases using thermodynamic data. Then, a comparison between theoretical data and experimental tests were performed. Cast iron was melted in induction furnace at 1550ºC. Slags composed mainly for CaO and Al2O3 were used to desulfurize cast iron. The results showed that the desulphurization reaction was favored when the liquid phase was increased. Furthermore, it was found that cast iron desulfurization occurs by top slag mechanism. Furthermore, the desulfurization tests showed a decrease up to 90.10% in the sulfur content to the mixture containing conventional lime and 87.25% to the mixture RMF15. The slags obtained from marble waste contained MgO, which it interfered negatively in the desulfurization yield. In addition, increasing the CaO particle diameter improved the desulfurization process. The desulphurization process more favored to particle size of 500-1000 µm.

Steelmaking slag and residues from granite cuttings are industrial wastes with considerable production, however limited applications. This work studied an inertization and recovery process of such wastes as raw materials into production of rock wool (i.e. a thermo-acoustic insulator with growing market). Several batches were produced aiming the chemical proprieties of a currently marketed rock wool. Mixtures were casted at temperatures of 1400-1500 °C, then quenched in water and also poured into a Herty Viscosimeter. Produced materials with thickness smaller than 500µm were characterized by chemical analyses, XRD, SEM, EDS and DTA. ThermoCalc software was used to simulate the cooling curves of rock wools. Results showed that incorporation of wastes does not affect the main qualities of rock wool, the thermal insulation and prevention of fire spread. Raw material batches of rock wools may assimilate up to 66% of granite waste, or 53% steelmaking slag, or 70% combining both materials.

Esse trabalho tem como objetivo o uso da termodinâmica computacional no estudo de dessulfuração de ferro-gusa com misturas de CaO-Fluorita e CaO-Sodalita. As experiências foram realizadas com a adição de diferentes misturas a partir desses sistemas em ferro-gusa a uma temperatura de 1,400ºC. Os resultados do teste foram analisados e comparados com os obtidos pelo programa de termodinâmica computacional THERMOCALC. Através deste software, foi calculado o teor de equilíbrio de enxofre do metal, as fases sólidas presentes e a quantidade de líquido em cada uma das misturas dessulfurantes utilizadas no processo na temperatura de 1,400ºC. A termodinâmica computacional provou ser uma ferramenta eficaz para estimar a capacidade de dessulfuração das misturas.

This work aims at the use of computational thermodynamics in the study of desulfurization of pig iron through CaO-Fluorspar and CaO-Sodalite mixtures. Experiments were performed with the addition of different mixtures from these systems in molten pig iron at a temperature of 1,400ºC. The test results were analyzed and compared with those obtained by the computational thermodynamics software program THERMOCALC. Through this software, were calculated the equilibrium sulfur content in the metal, solid phases, and the amount of liquid in each desulfurizing mixture used in the process at a temperature of 1,400ºC. The computational thermodynamics proved to be an effective tool in predicting the desulfurization capacity of the mixtures.

O objetivo da pesquisa é recuperar os principais metais presentes em um lote com uma mistura de diversos tipos de pilhas e de baterias descartadas após o uso, lote obtido em um posto de coleta. Para esse estudo, o resíduo das pilhas e das baterias foi moído, reduzido em forno elétrico, submetido à separação magnética e lixiviado. A composição química, após a lixiviação, foi reproduzida em uma solução sintética, que foi submetida à extração por solventes e reextração sendo que as soluções obtidas, após as reextrações, foram utilizadas como eletrólitos. Manganês, cobre, cobalto e níquel são recuperados na forma metálica após um tratamento que inclui as etapas pirometalúrgica, hidrometalúrgica e eletroquímica. Estudos anteriores definiram os parâmetros das etapas pirometalúrgica, lixiviação e extração por solventes que proporcionaram separação mais seletiva dos íons metálicos que se pretende recuperar. A contribuição do presente estudo é encontrar um processo que trate de todos os tipos de pilhas e de baterias juntos e recuperar seus metais mais importantes, evitando, assim, a etapa de separação prévia das baterias. Os filmes foram analisados quanto à sua espessura e composição.

The research aims to recover the major metals present in a lot with the mixture of several types of spent batteries, obtained from a collection station. For this study, battery residue was crushed, reduced in an electric furnace, and subjected to magnetic separation and leaching. The chemical composition after leaching was reproduced in a synthetic solution, which was subjected to extraction by solvents, and re-extracted. The stripped solutions were used as electrolytes. Manganese, copper, cobalt and nickel were recovered in metallic form after a treatment that included pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical and electrochemical steps. Previous studies have defined the parameters of the pyrometallurgical steps, leaching and liquid-liquid extraction which provided more selective separation of metallic ions than was intended to recover. The contribution of this study is to find a process that involves all batteries types and recovers the more important metals, eliminating the battery separation step. Films were analyzed as to their thickness and composition.

Esse trabalho estuda a viabilidade técnica da fabricação de cimento com uma mistura de resíduo proveniente da serragem de blocos de granito e escória de aciaria LD. Para isso, foi preparada uma mistura desses materiais de modo que a relação %CaO / %SiO2 fosse 1,2. Essa mistura foi fundida e resfriada rapidamente em água. A amostra foi caracterizada e o difratograma de raios X mostrou um material amorfo e a presença das fases mineralógicas Akermanita e Gehlenita, as quais são consideradas como as fases mineralógicas ideais para a atividade hidráulica. Essa mistura foi adicionada ao clínquer para a fabricação de cimento. Com o cimento fabricado, foram feitos ensaios cujos resultados são apresentados e comparados com os valores obtidos para o cimento de alto-forno. Esses resultados indicam a viabilidade técnica da utilização da mistura na fabricação de cimento.

This article studies the technical feasibility of manufacturing cement agglomerated with granite block sawing waste and LD steel slag. The materials were mixed in order to maintain the relationship %CaO / %SiO2 of the mixture equal to 1:2. The mixture was melted and rapidly cooled in water. The sample was characterized and the X-ray diffractograms showed an amorphous material and the presence of mineral phases akermanite and gehlenite, which were considered ideal mineral phases for hydraulic activity. This mixture was added to clinker for cement production. The cement made with this mixture was tested for comparison with the blast furnace slag cement. These results indicate a technical feasibility for manufacturing cement with this mixture.

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a biossorção de metais presentes em uma amostra sintética de drenagem ácida de mina, determinando o tempo de equilíbrio, a quantidade de metal captado e removido e, também, as mudanças ocorridas na biomassa. Para tanto, os ensaios foram realizados mantendo-se constantes a temperatura (25ºC), o pH (2,6), a concentração de biomassa (1g.L-1) e sob agitação de 175rpm. Como biossorvente foi utilizada uma massa fixa de bactérias gram-positivas Rhodococcus opacus no estágio de morte que foi crescida em meio YMA (yeast mannitol agar), durante 24h, a 28ºC e sob agitação de 150rpm. Após o processo biossortivo as amostras foram centrifugadas: o sobrenadante foi analisado através de análise de absorção atômica e a biomassa foi caracterizada através análises de microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Os resultados mostraram que a captação máxima ocorre em torno de 1 minuto e representa 48,2mg.g-1, o que corresponde a aproximadamente 11,7% de remoção. As mudanças verificadas nas análises de MEV indicam que houve interação entre os íons metálicos e a biomassa.

This study aims to evaluate metal biosorption in an acid mine drainage (AMD) synthetic sample by determining the equilibrium time, the amount of metal captured and removed, and also the biomass changes. For this, tests were performed with parameter constants: 25ºC temperature, 2.6 pH, 1g.L-1 biomass concentration, and at 175rpm shake. The gram-positive bacterium Rhodococcus opacus was used as biosorbent, after having been grown in YMA (yeast mannitol agar) for 24h at 28ºC and shaken at 150rpm. After the biosorptive process, samples were centrifuged: the supernatant was analyzed by atomic absorption and the biomass was characterized by analysis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that maximum uptake time occurs in about 1 minute, when the maximum uptake was 48.2mg.g-1, which corresponds to approximately to 11.7% of the total removal. The changes observed in the SEM indicate that there are interactions between metal ions and biomass.

O presente trabalho investigou a influência da suplementação de ferro e da adaptação bacteriana sobre a biolixiviação de cobre de placas de circuito impresso usando a bactéria Acidithiobacillusferrooxidans-LR. Placas de circuito impresso de computadores obsoletos foram mecanicamente processadas através de cominuição seguida de separação magnética. A bactéria Acidithiobacillusferrooxidans-LR foi crescida e adaptada à presença de amostras de placas de circuito impresso cominuídas. Um estudo de frascos agitados foi realizado usando um shaker a 30ºC e 185 rpm. Os parâmetros analisados foram pH, concentração de íon ferroso e concentração de metais (ICP-OES). Os resultados demonstram que o processo de adaptação bacteriana aumentou a taxa de extração de cobre. A biolixiviação com Acidithiobacillusferrooxidans-LR adaptada lixiviou 56% do cobre das placas de circuito impresso (fração não-magnética) no meio suplementado pelo íon ferroso após 30 dias.

The present work investigated the influence of ferrous iron supplementation on bioleaching to recover copper from printed circuit boards using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans-LR bacteria. Printed wiring boards from obsolete computers were mechanically processed through cominution followed by magnetic separation. The Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans-LR bacteria were grown and adapted in the presence of printed wiring board samples. A shake flask study was carried out on the printed circuit board samples using a rotary shaker at 30ºC and 185 rpm. The analyzed parameters were: the pH of the medium, the initial ferrous iron concentration and the metal concentrations (ICP-OES). The results showed that the bacterial adaptation process enhanced the copper extraction rate. The bioleaching with adapted Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans-LR leached out 56% of the copper from printed circuit boards (non-magnetic fraction) with the medium being supplemented by ferrous iron after 30 days.

Esse trabalho apresenta os resultados obtidos com a confecção de briquetes a partir da granalha de aço presente no resíduo de rochas ornamentais. A granalha recuperada através de separação magnética foi caracterizada pelo método titulométrico, EDS (Espectrometria por Dispersão de Elétrons) e difração de raios X. O tamanho e a distribuição das partículas foram obtidos por microscopia eletrônica de varredura e análise granulométrica. O concentrado ferroso recuperado apresentou teor de 93% de ferro metálico. Os briquetes apresentaram resistência a verde para força até 1,02 kN e a seco para a força máxima de 3,59 kN.

This paper presents the results obtained with the production of briquettes from the steel grit found in the residue of ornamental rocks. The grit recovered by magnetic separation was characterized by titrimetric analysis, EDS (Electron Dispersive Spectroscopy) and X-ray diffraction for the analysis of iron concentration in the residue. The size and distribution of particles were obtained by the granulometric analysis method and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The process resulted in a concentrate containing 93% metallic iron. The maximum load before fracture of the green briquettes was 1.02kN and of the dry briquettes was 3.59kN.

A indústria de carbonato de cálcio é uma atividade produtiva geradora de resíduos sólidos impactantes para o meio ambiente por conterem alta concentração de elementos alcalinos (CaO, CaCO3 e Ca(OH)2). Esse trabalho visa à caracterização e à classificação dos resíduos sólidos gerados no processo de hidratação de uma indústria de carbonato de cálcio, segundo as normas NBR série 10.000 da ABNT, e à determinação do potencial e à eficiência da utilização dos resíduos sólidos como corretivo da acidez do solo. Inicialmente os resíduos estudados foram submetidos à análise de massa bruta, à ensaios de lixiviação, solubilização, à ensaios de pH, à difratometria de raios X, à espectrometria de emissão atômica, via plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP-AES), à análise granulométrica e à análise de teor de umidade. A determinação do potencial e da eficiência dos resíduos como corretivo da acidez do solo foi realizada através da análise dos atributos da qualidade dos corretivos do solo (PN, PRNT, teores de Ca e Mg, granulometria). Pelos resultados apresentados, os resíduos estudados podem ser utilizados como corretivo da acidez do solo, considerando que, para cada tipo de solo, uma composição típica de corretivo é necessária. É necessário realizar o beneficiamento do produto, fazendo a secagem e adequando o grau de moagem para as especificações exigidas pelo mercado consumidor.

The calcium carbonate industry generates solid waste products which, because of their high alkaline content (CaO, CaCO3 and Ca (OH)2 ), have a substantial impact on the environment. The objectives of this study are to characterize and classify the solid waste products, which are generated during the hydration process of the calcium carbonate industry, according to ABNT's NBR 10.000 series, and to determine the potential and efficiency of using these solid residues to correct soil acidity. Initially, the studied residue was submitted to gross mass, leaching, solubility, pH, X-ray Diffractometry, Inductive Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES), granularity and humidity analyses. The potential and efficiency of the residue for correcting soil acidity was determined by analysis of the quality attributes for soil correctives (PN, PRNT, Ca and Mg contents, granularity). Consequently, the results show that the studied residue may be used as a soil acidity corrective, considering that a typical corrective compound is recommended for each different type of soil. Additionally, the product must be further treated (dried and ground) to suit the specific requirements of the consumer market.

O descarte de produtos eletro-eletrônicos vem crescendo anualmente. Por esse motivo, necessita-se de reciclagem para que se evite o desperdício de recursos naturais não-renováveis. O objetivo desse trabalho é estudar a reciclagem dos cabos tipo cordão paralelo através de operações unitárias de tratamento de minérios. As seguintes operações unitárias foram testadas: moagem, separação granulométrica, separação em meio denso, separação eletrostática, atrição, bateamento e elutriação. Ao final desses processos, observou-se que as operações utilizadas obtiveram concentrados de cobre com baixo grau de contaminação. Observou-se que todas as técnicas precisam de uma outra técnica para complementá-las. Concluiu-se, ainda, que a moagem em moinho de facas com grelha de 3mm é necessária para se conseguir a total liberação dos materiais.

The composition and discharge of eletro-electronic products is increasing year after year. To avoid the loss of non-renewable mineral resources and energy, the establishment of a recycling loop for such products is necessary. The goal of this work is to study the recycling of parallel wires using unit operations of mineral processing. The following unit operations were used: grinding, size separation, sink-and-float, electrostatic separation, scrubbing, panning and elutriation. One can observe a low contamination grade in the obtained copper. However, in all cases, a two step flow sheet must be used to completely separate plastics from copper. One can conclude that the total liberation of materials during grinding was reached when the final particle sizes were inferior to 3mm.