Review

Roadmap for recycling practices and resource utilization in the iron and steelmaking industry: a case studies

¹ K1-MET GmbH, 4020 Linz, Austria
² Acciaierie d’Italia S.p.A., 20151 Milano, Italy
³ ArcelorMittal Belgium NV, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
⁴ Butter Bridge BV, 1000 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
⁵ University of Oulu, 90570 Oulu, Finland
⁶ Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
⁷ RINA Consulting − Centro Sviluppo Materiali S.p.A., 00128 Rome, Italy
⁸ Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
⁹ Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing − National Research Council of Italy (STIIMA-CNR), 20133 Milano, Italy
¹⁰ Swerim AB, 97125 Luleå, Sweden
¹¹ Tenova S.p.A., 21053 Castellanza, Italy
¹² TU Dortmund University, 44339 Dortmund, Germany
¹³ Ghent University, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Gent, Belgium

^* e-mail: lina.kieush@k1-met.com

Received: 6 February 2024
Accepted: 20 October 2024

Abstract

This paper aims at providing an overview of the ways for residue valorization in the iron and steelmaking industry. The important role of recycling in iron and steelmaking as a cornerstone for achieving a cleaner and resource-efficient potential is described. Several research results concerning metals and metal oxides (scrap, scale), slags, dusts, process gases, and water recycling from the iron and steelmaking process are reviewed here, aiming to detect those research gaps that still need implementation and suggest potential approaches toward potential solutions. Through a comprehensive evaluation, several possibilities are provided to incorporate effectively in metallurgical processes the bio-based or bio-derived carbon materials, namely biomass, biochar, biocoke, and polymers from waste plastics to reduce the dependence on fuel and reducing agents from fossil sources, and therefore mitigating the related environmental impact of the steel industry. Eventually, this review highlights the importance of embracing circular economy (CE) principles in iron and steelmaking, along with considering opportunities for industrial symbiosis (IS) and exploring the role of digitalization and digital solutions in recycling practices.