About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Measurement & Control of High Temperature Processes
|
| Presentation Title |
Slag Design as a Key Factor in E-Waste Recycling: Thermodynamic Optimization and Industrial Validation |
| Author(s) |
Christoph Sagadin, Andreas Filzwieser |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Christoph Sagadin |
| Abstract Scope |
Efficient recovery of copper and precious metals from complex e-waste depends heavily on proper slag design. This study investigates the influence of slag chemistry on metal recovery using thermodynamic modeling and industrial trials. Copper-rich fractions—including shredded dusts (10–20% Cu) and PCBs—were treated in a Smelter and a laboratory-scale induction furnace. Initial slag systems, characterized by high viscosity and acidic behavior, resulted in incomplete separation of slag/metal and higher energy consumption caused by high melting slag. Using FactSage-based calculations, optimized slag compositions were developed to adjust basicity and liquidus temperatures. These were validated through controlled melting experiments, with analytical support via RFA and spark spectrometry. Mass balances confirmed enhanced copper recovery and more stable furnace operation. The results highlight that slag design is not a secondary parameter but a central control variable in metallurgical processing of e-waste. This work supports the implementation of scalable, robust recovery routes for heterogeneous, copper-rich waste streams. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Recycling and Secondary Recovery, Modeling and Simulation, Pyrometallurgy |