Abstract
In addition to base metals such as copper and lead, precious metals such as gold and silver are contained in the molten metals of incineration residue. Based on this fact, technologies exist to concentrate and melt incineration residues to recover resources at nonferrous refining facilities. This study specifically examined this centralized reductive melting and compared resource substitution and LCCO2 with conventional uses of alternative raw materials in the cement industry and for the use of roadbed materials by aging.
First, material flow analysis was conducted based on the existing literature and process data from actual operation facilities. Next, setting the base scenario as landfill disposal, we evaluated the degree to which recovered metals can be substituted for natural ore. Results show that approximately 1ton of incineration residues can provide several kilograms to several tens kilograms of copper, lead, and zinc concentrates, and approximately 1ton of gold and silver ore, using reductive melting. The LCCO2 analysis results demonstrated that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will be increased, but future changes in power composition and site location optimization offer the possibility of producing less GHG emissions than landfill disposal.
