Novel approach to recycling of steel swarf using hydrometallurgy
Journal article, 2022

Steel swarf is a hazardous waste which is challenging to recycle due to its high content of heavy metals and cutting fluids and is today commonly landfilled. The swarf can contain up to 80% iron and represents a potential secondary raw material for production of reagents like ferric chloride, which can be utilized in wastewater treatment. This work presents a novel hydrometallurgical approach for recycling steel swarf and production of ferric chloride by selective separation of iron from heavy metals. Swarf containing 69% iron was leached with hydrochloric acid. A leachate containing 24.600 mg/L Fe with 150 mg/L Mn, 12 mg/L Ni and <1 mg/L Cr and Mo was obtained. The oil-based cutting fluids largely remained in the solid residue with only 1% dissolution in the aqueous phase. These findings showed that ferric chloride solutions of 99% purity can be produced from steel swarf in a single leaching step.

Recycling

Steel swarf

Selective leaching

Ferric chloride

Cutting fluid

Hazardous waste

Author

Thomas Ottink

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material

Nathalia Cristine Vieceli

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material

Mark Foreman

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material

Martina Petranikova

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material

Resources, Conservation and Recycling

09213449 (ISSN) 18790658 (eISSN)

Vol. 185 106450

Subject Categories

Chemical Process Engineering

Metallurgy and Metallic Materials

Corrosion Engineering

Infrastructure

Chalmers Materials Analysis Laboratory

DOI

10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106450

More information

Latest update

4/11/2023