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Chromium Stabilization in Ferrochromium Slag for its Utilization as Aggregate Material

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Abstract

Ferrochromium slag is a by-product of ferrochromium production via the smelting of chromite ores. The mechanical properties of this slag make it a potential material to be used as an inexpensive construction material, the utilization of which can reduce the use of natural resources. Despite its potential use, ferrochromium slag is treated as a waste due to environmental and health concerns regarding the leaching of its heavy metal content, the most concerning of which is carcinogenic chromium (VI). Research has shown that the spinel phase in ferrochromium slag stabilizes chromium by trapping it in the spinel structure and preventing its leaching to the environment. This study investigates the effect of heat treatment and composition change on spinel formation in ferrochromium slag and subsequently on the stabilization of chromium. Slag samples of the MgO–Al2O3–SiO2–CaO–FeO–Cr2O3 system were synthesized at 1650 °C for 10 h in a vertical tube furnace. Samples were heat treated after synthesis by holding them at 1400, 1475, and 1550 °C for 12 h before quenching. Leaching tests on heat-treated slag samples reveal that samples held at 1400 °C have the lowest chromium leachability. With a holding temperature of 1400 °C, slag samples were prepared with variations in Al2O3 content in the range of 0–20%. Higher Cr leaching is observed from samples as the Al2O3 content increases. Similar heat-treated samples were prepared with constant Al2O3 content and basicity (CaO/SiO2) varying from 0.3 to 0.7. An increase in basicity increases the amount of Cr released from the samples during leaching experiments.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to convey their deepest gratitude to Dr. Dogan Paktunc from CanmetMINING, NRCan for providing his valuable insight throughout the research. This research was funded by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Research Affiliated Program (Bursary Agreement Res 1639, 2018-09).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Tahmeed Bin Tasnim

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Leili Tafaghodi Khajavi

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  1. Tahmeed Bin Tasnim
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  2. Leili Tafaghodi Khajavi
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Correspondence to Tahmeed Bin Tasnim.

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The contributing editor for this article was Mansoor Barati.

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Bin Tasnim, T., Tafaghodi Khajavi, L. Chromium Stabilization in Ferrochromium Slag for its Utilization as Aggregate Material. J. Sustain. Metall. 8, 1041–1052 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40831-022-00542-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40831-022-00542-8

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