At the recently concluded 7th International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Conference & Exhibition in Mumbai from Sep 05-08, 2018, DASTUR presented three innovative ideas on utilization of Spent Pot Lining (SPL). SPL is a solid waste discharged from aluminum smelters at a rate of ~1-1.5 MTPA globally. Because of its exorbitantly high treatment costs, SPL is usually stored in specially constructed sites. However, the presence of toxic and corrosive components such as F, CN, Na, Al in SPL poses an environmental threat as they may contaminate the earth’s crust and underground water.

Dastur Innovation Labs, in collaboration with Process Metallurgy Research Labs at the University of Toronto has been working extensively to understand the chemistry of SPL and extract value out of it. Due to its C and F content, SPL can potentially act as: (a) a flux for enhanced metal recovery in the nonferrous industry, (b) an alternative fuel in ironmaking blast furnaces (c) a carbon injection source in the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). The ideas were very well received by the august audience and industry-wide implementation steps are currently being planned.

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