Metallurgical slags are produced at a massive rate of over 750 Mt/year, and carry a thermal energy equivalent to 40 Mt/year of coal. The potential mineral and thermal energy values of slags are in the order of $22 b and $3–6 b per year. Such attractive figures, together with tightening legislation on disposal of slag and the carbon footprint associated with the loss of mineral and energy values of slags have created a significant thrust in the past decade to develop sustainable approaches for full utilization of slag and its waste heat. As a result of extensive R&D in this area, the slag-processing technologies are slowly converging around dry granulation combined with heat recovery. In this paper, the slag granulation and heat recovery options are reviewed and given a critical evaluation, aiming to provide a basis for future directions in slag handling.

中文翻译：

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冶金渣的造粒和热回收

冶金渣的产生速度超过750 Mt /年，并携带相当于40 Mt /年的煤的热能。矿渣的潜在矿物和热能价值每年约为22 b和3-6 b。如此诱人的数字，再加上有关废渣处置的严格立法以及与矿渣的矿物和能量价值损失相关的碳足迹，在过去十年中为开发充分利用矿渣及其废热的可持续方法创造了重要动力。由于在这一领域进行了广泛的研发，矿渣处理技术正在缓慢地围绕干法制粒与热回收相融合。在本文中，对炉渣的造粒和热回收方案进行了审查，并进行了严格评估，