Flotation Sludges from Precious Metal Recovery Processes: From Waste to Secondary Raw Material in Ceramics
In this study, we investigated flotation muds (FM) deriving from the recovery processes of precious metals contained in e-waste (wastes from electronics) and exhausted catalysts. FM consist of an amorphous phase, corresponding to a Ca- and Al-rich silicatic glass, potentially usable as a secondary r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Recycling |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/8/2/35 |
| _version_ | 1827743880893693952 |
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| author | Matteo Perotti Francesco Iacoviello Narcisa M. Marian Carlo Indelicato Giancarlo Capitani Riccardo Salvini Marco Zampini Cecilia Viti |
| author_facet | Matteo Perotti Francesco Iacoviello Narcisa M. Marian Carlo Indelicato Giancarlo Capitani Riccardo Salvini Marco Zampini Cecilia Viti |
| author_sort | Matteo Perotti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, we investigated flotation muds (FM) deriving from the recovery processes of precious metals contained in e-waste (wastes from electronics) and exhausted catalysts. FM consist of an amorphous phase, corresponding to a Ca- and Al-rich silicatic glass, potentially usable as a secondary raw material (SRM) to obtain a final ceramic product (CFM). A high FM amount was used in our ceramic tests, and suitably mixed with variable percentages of other phases. Chemical analysis, phase composition, microstructure, pore pattern and technological properties of the new ceramic products were determined using different analytical techniques, including bulk XRF, XRD, SEM-EDS and µCT. The CFM product predominantly consists of nepheline, pyroxene and wollastonite as the main crystalline phases, with a minor amorphous phase occurring as a compact interstitial matrix. The ceramic product has a porous interconnected microstructure. Nevertheless, this microstructure does not negatively affect the mechanical properties of the ceramic product, as testified by the geo-mechanical tests, revealing good properties in terms of bending and uniaxial strength. These preliminary results point out that FM recycling is feasible, at least at the laboratory scale. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:35:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2cb0e944000e433da5424e06b8d35d17 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2313-4321 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:35:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Recycling |
| spelling | doaj.art-2cb0e944000e433da5424e06b8d35d172023-11-17T21:07:59ZengMDPI AGRecycling2313-43212023-03-01823510.3390/recycling8020035Flotation Sludges from Precious Metal Recovery Processes: From Waste to Secondary Raw Material in CeramicsMatteo Perotti0Francesco Iacoviello1Narcisa M. Marian2Carlo Indelicato3Giancarlo Capitani4Riccardo Salvini5Marco Zampini6Cecilia Viti7Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, DSFTA, (UniSI), Via Laterina, 8, 53100 Siena, ItalyElectrochemical Innovation Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E6BT, UKDepartment of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, DSFTA, (UniSI), Via Laterina, 8, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, DSFTA, (UniSI), Via Laterina, 8, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences, DISAT, (UniMIB) Piazza della Scienza, 4, 20126 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, DSFTA, (UniSI), Via Laterina, 8, 53100 Siena, ItalyGrinn Srl, Via Wanda Osiris, 11, 00139 Roma, ItalyDepartment of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, DSFTA, (UniSI), Via Laterina, 8, 53100 Siena, ItalyIn this study, we investigated flotation muds (FM) deriving from the recovery processes of precious metals contained in e-waste (wastes from electronics) and exhausted catalysts. FM consist of an amorphous phase, corresponding to a Ca- and Al-rich silicatic glass, potentially usable as a secondary raw material (SRM) to obtain a final ceramic product (CFM). A high FM amount was used in our ceramic tests, and suitably mixed with variable percentages of other phases. Chemical analysis, phase composition, microstructure, pore pattern and technological properties of the new ceramic products were determined using different analytical techniques, including bulk XRF, XRD, SEM-EDS and µCT. The CFM product predominantly consists of nepheline, pyroxene and wollastonite as the main crystalline phases, with a minor amorphous phase occurring as a compact interstitial matrix. The ceramic product has a porous interconnected microstructure. Nevertheless, this microstructure does not negatively affect the mechanical properties of the ceramic product, as testified by the geo-mechanical tests, revealing good properties in terms of bending and uniaxial strength. These preliminary results point out that FM recycling is feasible, at least at the laboratory scale.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/8/2/35flotation mudswaste valorizationsecondary raw materialrecyclingceramics |
| spellingShingle | Matteo Perotti Francesco Iacoviello Narcisa M. Marian Carlo Indelicato Giancarlo Capitani Riccardo Salvini Marco Zampini Cecilia Viti Flotation Sludges from Precious Metal Recovery Processes: From Waste to Secondary Raw Material in Ceramics Recycling flotation muds waste valorization secondary raw material recycling ceramics |
| title | Flotation Sludges from Precious Metal Recovery Processes: From Waste to Secondary Raw Material in Ceramics |
| title_full | Flotation Sludges from Precious Metal Recovery Processes: From Waste to Secondary Raw Material in Ceramics |
| title_fullStr | Flotation Sludges from Precious Metal Recovery Processes: From Waste to Secondary Raw Material in Ceramics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Flotation Sludges from Precious Metal Recovery Processes: From Waste to Secondary Raw Material in Ceramics |
| title_short | Flotation Sludges from Precious Metal Recovery Processes: From Waste to Secondary Raw Material in Ceramics |
| title_sort | flotation sludges from precious metal recovery processes from waste to secondary raw material in ceramics |
| topic | flotation muds waste valorization secondary raw material recycling ceramics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/8/2/35 |
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