2 research outputs found
Characterization of Solid Wastes from Aluminum Tertiary Sector: The Current State of Spanish Industry
Aluminum recycling is an important activity that allows returning this metal to the market saving
energy and resources. This activity generates slag and dross, both hazardous materials, which are
recovered by other industries (tertiary sector). In that process, new wastes are produced, but
most of them are disposed in security storage facilities because of their hazardousness and scarce
marketable value. In Spain, the statistical data analysis on waste reveals that this sector is increasing
every year. This study aims to characterize the wastes generated by the tertiary aluminum
industries in Spain. Samples were collected in different aluminum recycling industries and
characterized by chemical analyses, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction and particle size determination.
Wastes rich in aluminum oxide and alkaline elements also comprise metallic aluminum
and aluminum nitride. Such components are the main responsible for the waste hazardousness
since they generate toxic gases in the presence of water. Besides, their fine granulometry (x50 < 30
¿m) also contributes highly to the hazardousness.Authors thank the MINECO (Spain) for financing the project CTM2012-34449 and aluminum tertiary companies for supplying the wastes. R. Sánchez-Hernández thanks MINECO for the grant BES-2013-066269.Peer Reviewe