Recovering metal slags
During metallurgic processes, a number of byproducts are created – on top of the materials you need. An important material stream is metal slag. This often contains a small amount of useful metal. VITO will help you recycle metal slags and repurpose the upgraded materials, which is a perfect way to contribute to a circular economy.
Close the loop with VITO
VITO will help you get more out of your metal slags. First, we’ll look into whether it’s feasible to upgrade your metal slags. Then, we’ll help you start processing and developing the metal. And finally, we’ll help you look for business models to commercialise the upgraded materials. Building materials, for example.
Why repurpose metal slags?
- You can get a better return on your waste streams.
- Because you produce less metal waste, you can save on waste costs.
- With the new materials, you can reach new market segments.
Orbix and Carbstone: from metal slag to building material
In collaboration with Orbix, VITO looked into whether you could create building materials from crushed metal slags and CO₂. Of course, the end result needed to be strong and stable and meet the strictest environmental standards. And we did it: our collaboration resulted in the patented Carbstone technology.
Want to recover metal slags efficiently?
Let’s figure out how you can get started. Contact Kris Broos today.
FAQ: metal slags
Slags are rocky bits of waste that were created in the melting process of metal. Depending on the metal that is processed, it can create phosphorus slag, foundry slag, copper slag, LD slag, lead slag ...
Thanks to their physical and chemical qualities, metal slags can be used in various ways. One of the most accessible applications is using it as a building material, but they are also increasingly used in other applications. VITO can help develop those applications.
To extract metals from the slags, most metal slags are reduced in size or broken. The smaller the bits of slag, the more metal can be recovered.