The Potential Usage Of Steelmaking By-Products: Electric Arc Furnace Dust

Abstract

During the steel manufacturing processes, by-products such as electric arc furnace (EAF) dust, rich in metallic oxides, are generated. In Malaysia. EAF dust is presently dumped or landfilled. However, as we forge ahead to achieve Malaysia's Vision 2020 to be a fully industrialised nation, we should not lose sight of the various regulations to protect the environment. EAF dust, presently listed as N201 and classified as scheduled waste under the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Waste) Regulations, 1989, contains heavy metals such as zinc, lead, cadmium and chromium. Heavy metals are harmful substances which are prohibited from being dumped directly. They are also valuable mineral resources. The high percentage of zinc in EAF dust suggests the potentiality to extract this valuable metal. In view of the difficulty in obtaining licence and land for dumping or landfill, and the tremendous increase in cost for present method of disposing EAF dust, a series of tests had been done to identify the potential usage of this by-product. This paper aims to direct iron and steel industry in Malaysia on the right path to the conversion of non-usable EAF dust into the recovery or valuable metals such as zinc, lead, iron, chromium, cadmium or nickel.