Sintering Bedding Layer for Heavy Metal Binding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for recycling metallurgical by-products and hazardous wastes containing iron or metal oxides are ineffective, leading to environmental damage and economic losses, as they fail to prevent the escape of heavy metals like zinc and lead into the atmosphere and do not facilitate their reuse in steel production.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a three-layer processing system where a bedding layer of limestone or dolomit is used to bind sulphur and heavy metals, with a basic layer of pelletized iron and solid fuel, and an upper layer of metal wastes with oil content, processed in a vacuum-sealed system to prevent contamination and enable recycling of metal oxides into industrial raw materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional recycling methods are used for metallurgical by-products and hazardous wastes, then processing can be performed, but heavy metals like zinc and lead escape into the atmosphere causing environmental damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capabilityVSAvoidheavy metal contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A bedding layer of basic material (limestone or dolomit) is introduced as an intermediary substance between the waste materials and the environment. This bedding layer acts as a mediator that binds heavy metals and sulfur compounds, preventing their escape into the atmosphere while allowing the recycling process to continue. The basic material serves as a chemical buffer that captures harmful substances during the sintering process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful heavy metals and sulfur compounds in the waste materials are converted into beneficial bound forms through reaction with the bedding layer. The previously harmful substances become part of the stabilized agglomerate product, transforming environmental hazards into incorporated, harmless components that remain trapped in the solid matrix of the recycled material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If metallurgical by-products are stored in temporary storehouses instead of being recycled, then environmental contamination is avoided, but considerable economic damage occurs due to loss of valuable metals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental protectionVSAvoideconomic value of metals
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The chemical and physical parameters of the waste materials are changed through the sintering process. By controlling temperature, atmosphere, and reaction conditions, the waste materials are transformed from an unusable state into a valuable industrial raw material. The bedding layer facilitates these parameter changes by providing a reactive medium that enables metal recovery while maintaining environmental safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding metallurgical by-products to avoid environmental issues, the process recovers valuable metals from these wastes. The bedding layer enables selective binding and retention of heavy metals during processing, allowing the iron and other valuable components to be recovered as reusable industrial raw materials for steel production and other applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Productivity

If known recycling processes are used, then iron and metal oxides can be processed, but additional cleaning and filtering are required to remove heavy metals from steam form

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing throughputVSAvoidcleaning and filtering requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bedding layer performs preliminary binding of heavy metals and sulfur compounds before the main processing occurs. By pre-establishing this protective barrier and reactive medium, the subsequent processing steps require minimal additional cleaning and filtering. The harmful substances are captured in advance during the sintering process itself, eliminating the need for complex post-processing separation equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach effectively binds heavy metals and sulphur compounds, preventing environmental contamination and enabling the reuse of metal oxides in steel production, reducing the need for additional cleaning and filtering, and producing a stable agglomerate suitable for further industrial applications.

Implementation Method 1

a bedding layer of limestone or dolomit is used to bind sulphur and heavy metals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

processed in a vacuum-sealed system to prevent contamination

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 3

Method for recycling and transformation of hazardous wastes and of metals, metal oxides into industrial raw materials

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSintering: Sintering

Data Source

PatentEP2018233B1Method for recycling and transformation of hazardous wastes and of metals, metal oxides at industrial starting material
Publication Date: 2012.03.21 BEM ZRT
  • EP2018233B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2018233B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The subject of the invention is a method for recycling and transformation of metallurgical by-products and hazardous wastes containing iron or other metals, metal oxides into industrial raw materials. During the method a compound is compiled in two layers (1,2), a basic layer (1) and an upper layer (2) from by-products containing iron and other metals or metal oxides and other hazardous wastes containing iron or other metals or metal oxides as well as from components regarded raw materials during the production. Then the layers are spread on a wandering grid of a continuous sintering equipment with igniting the layers by a double fire zone, carrying out in one process the igniting and after-burning of oil derivates, and the metallurgical processes of the iron components of the compound. The flue gases arising in the active zone are sucked through the end product in the reduction zone. During the method a bedding layer (17) is spread on the wandering grid (20) before spreading and igniting the basic layer (1).Then the upper layer (2) containing oil wastes is spread and ignited on the spread and ignited basic layer (1).