Innovation in SPL Transformation - the Industrial Ecology way

Spent Pot Lining as a Valuable Commodity

Article Published in Light Metal Age, February 2015 Primary Metals Edition

by Phil Black - Regain Materials

Despite all the efficiency improvements, emissions reductions and energy savings in aluminium smelting, there remains a fundamental problem – what to do with Spent Pot Linings? When pots are dug out and relined after their useful service life the hazardous waste generated is being stored temporarily in huge quantities (about 2.5% of annual aluminium metal production) by many smelters, who are hoping for an eventual solution. Depositing the toxic SPL materials into landfill creates a long-term liability for future generations to deal with. Integrity of early landfills is suspect, with groundwater contamination by leaching SPL resulting in expensive clean-up into “safer” landfills. Landfill of SPL is now banned by environmental regulators in many countries, so smelters with an eye on the sustainability of their future operations and community health and safety need to find other solutions.

Download the full article - English

قراءة الوثيقة -  العربية