Decontamination of steel scrap

Baseline strategy · No score

Remove unwanted elements before melting to avoid loss of quality and emissions.

Subject: Steel and industryContext: Steel · Industry · Manufacture of steelCost: mediumEffort: mediumLevel: recommendedStage: planning and operationMaturity: established
Principle of Descontaminación de chatarra siderúrgica
Operating principle

How it works

Remove unwanted elements before melting to avoid loss of quality and emissions.

Steel improvement combines lower emission routes, material performance, energy efficiency and water, air and waste control.

When does it make sense?

  • The production route and quality required are known
  • Energy, material and emissions balance can be measured
  • Product safety and durability are maintained

How to apply it

  1. 1

    Delimit the measurement and measure the starting position.

  2. 2

    Apply the measure with competent personnel and check for site-specific risks.

  3. 3

    Follow results, maintain the solution and correct unwanted effects.

Potential benefits

Lower resource intensity

Less emissions or waste

Increased use of steel

Limitations and precautions

  • The benefit must be verified under the actual conditions of application.
  • An improvement per tonne can coexist with more total emissions.
  • The routes depend on scrap, electricity, mineral and infrastructure available.

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