By-Product Leaching: Innovative Residue Treatment for Gas Cleaning Plants

The By-Product Leaching System is a groundbreaking solution designed to address the ongoing challenges faced by steel producers in disposing of hazardous by-products. Off-gas cleaning systems, such as Primetals Technologies MEROS system, capture and reduce up to 99% of harmful pollutants from the off-gas in sinter and pellet plants. However, the remaining dust by-product still poses disposal challenges. By integrating the By-Product Leaching system with the MEROS system, up to 90% of this residue can be reused or recycled, with only a small fraction remaining as hazardous waste.

The By-Product Leaching system minimizes the volume of hazardous dust, disposal costs, and environmental impact by implementing specialized treatment steps. In the first step, the dust is charged into leaching tanks. After that, the solution is filtered. The dewatered sludge is returned to the sinter or pelletizing plants, and the filtrate undergoes treatment steps before being discharged to a central water treatment plant or into the sea.

Through the special treatment steps of the By-Product Leaching plant, up to 90% of the residue dust can be reduced. Of this, up to 30% of the by-product can be recovered and reused in the primary process, while the remaining portion can be discharged as treated water. Only a small quantity of sludge must be landfilled.

The By-Product Leaching system provides a modular approach and a compact plant layout, enabling the recycling of valuable materials for reuse in sinter and pelletizing plants. This innovative system is adaptable to various customer requirements and environmental regulations, ensuring compliance and efficiency.

Benefits of By-Product Leaching from Primetals Technologies

• Reduce disposal costs: minimize the need for landfilling by reducing the amount of final residue dust by up to 90%
• Enhance environmental compliance: Meet stringent environmental regulations
• Adapt to requirements: modular design allows for customization to meet specific needs
• Improve sustainability: transform waste into reusable materials, promoting a circular economy
• Boost operational efficiency: Streamline waste management processes