A new technology that harvests blast furnace waste to make cement, while slashing water use and greenhouse gas emissions.
The process, designed by Australian scientists, is being trialled for commercialisation in China.
The process, known as Dry Slag Granulation, includes a spinning disc and granulation chamber that separates molten slag into droplets under centrifugal forces, uses air to quench and solidify the droplets, and extracts a granulated slag product as well as heated air.
The process produces a glassy product that is ideal for cement manufacture, but has significantly lower associated greenhouse gas emissions than cement produced by conventional methods.
“The benefits each year from full commercialisation and adoption of DSG technology are in the order of 60 billion litres of water, 800 petajoules of heat energy and 60 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions,” says Australian government research group CSIRO’s Jonathan Law. said.
Air at 500-600°C extracted from the DSG process can be used onsite for drying, preheating or steam generation
“DSG is just one of the CSIRO innovations in sustainable steel production and one of many solutions we have found for national and global challenges in the minerals industry,” he said.
The process is being commercialised through an agreement between CSIRO and the Beijing MCC Equipment Research & Design Corporation.
Originally published by Cosmos as New steelmaking process leads to greener production
Bill Condie
Bill Condie is a science journalist based in Adelaide, Australia.
Read science facts, not fiction...
There’s never been a more important time to explain the facts, cherish evidence-based knowledge and to showcase the latest scientific, technological and engineering breakthroughs. Cosmos is published by The Royal Institution of Australia, a charity dedicated to connecting people with the world of science. Financial contributions, however big or small, help us provide access to trusted science information at a time when the world needs it most. Please support us by making a donation or purchasing a subscription today.
