Economic feasibility of by-products processing of metallurgical production

Abstract

In this paper the economic aspects of the processing of the metallurgical production by-products such as a mill scale obtained by mechanical cleaning of hot-rolled steel strips and hematite obtained by spray roasting of the spent pickling solution are discussed. It is shown by the statistical processing of literature data and mathematical modeling that steel production is growing with time exponentially both in developed countries and in the world as a whole, which emphasizes the importance of this material and the processing of its by-products. One of the most economically viable methods for producing iron oxides, in our opinion, is the use of by-products of steel rolling production. Due to their unique properties, nanostructured iron oxides are widely used in various branches of science and technology. Due to their magnetic properties, corrosion resistance, low toxicity, they are used in catalysis, environmental protection, sensors, magnetic information storage materials, in diagnostics and treatment, as electrodes of lithium-ion batteries. In particular, α -Fe 2 O 3 hematite can be used in gas sensors, catalysts, and electrode materials.
Magnetic iron oxides magnetite Fe 3 O 4 and maghemite γ -Fe 2 O 3 are used in biomedicine as contrast agents for NMR tomography and the separation of biological materials.