Circular Economy: Adding Value to the Post-Industrial Waste through the Transformation of Aluminum Dross for Cement Matrix Applications

Mario Fernando Muñoz-Vélez, Kathleen Salazar-Serna, Daniela Escobar-Torres, Manuel Alejandro Rojas-Manzano, Adriana Gómez-Gómez and Aníbal Maury-Ramírez ()
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Mario Fernando Muñoz-Vélez: Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, Calle 18 # 118-250, Santiago de Cali 760031, Colombia
Kathleen Salazar-Serna: Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, Calle 18 # 118-250, Santiago de Cali 760031, Colombia
Daniela Escobar-Torres: Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, Calle 18 # 118-250, Santiago de Cali 760031, Colombia
Manuel Alejandro Rojas-Manzano: Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, Calle 18 # 118-250, Santiago de Cali 760031, Colombia
Adriana Gómez-Gómez: Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, Calle 18 # 118-250, Santiago de Cali 760031, Colombia
Aníbal Maury-Ramírez: Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, Calle 18 # 118-250, Santiago de Cali 760031, Colombia

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 18, 1-21

Abstract: In light of globalization and escalating environmental concerns, society is increasingly confronted with the challenge of implementing the concept of a circular economy, which promotes the recycle of waste materials and offers a promising solution. Aluminum dross, a byproduct of the aluminum production process, poses environmental issues when not properly managed. Therefore, this study examined the technical and financial feasibility of implementing an industrial process for the recovery and transformation of aluminum dross into raw materials for use in cementitious materials. From a technical perspective, two processes were evaluated: washing and the grindability of the material. An X-ray diffraction analysis allowed to verify an approximately 88% reduction in AlN (a compound that produces ammonia gases when reacting with water) after washing the material. The most efficient grinding process was achieved using an impact mill. The financial feasibility study was carried out through cash flow forecasting, which revealed that a minimum selling price of USD 0.12 per kilogram of processed material could generate a return rate of 9.7% over a five-year period. These results present opportunities for the metal and construction industries to develop products with low CO 2 emissions by reintegrating aluminum dross into a productive cycle. Moreover, this work serves as a valuable reference for policymakers and environmental authorities seeking to formulate new legislation or incentives that encourage companies to invest in environmentally focused projects.

Keywords: aluminum dross; waste management; circular economy; feasibility study; cement–matrix composites; industrial symbiosis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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