Project ”Slags containing metals – improving of slag quality in order to promote their utilization”

Vast amounts of slags and similar by-products are produced every year in metals industry. The composition and physical properties of the materials offer versatile possibilities for their use e.g. in road construction and in other corresponding applications. The solubilities of some harmful elements contained by the materials may, however, be excessive according to the environmental regulations and thus form an obstacle to their utilization. 

The aim of the project is to study possibilities of modifying slag compositions in a way which would diminish the solubility of the harmful components. This can be done by additives which either favour the formation of stable minerals in slags (spinels, apatite-type phosphates) or alter the general composition into an area which shows more resistant behaviour in environmental surroundings. The modifications are performed in laboratory after which the modified materials are studied regarding their solubility properties in different conditions by using standardized methods developed for the purpose.

The project was started in September 2003 and will last until the end of the year 2004. The project is carried out by the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) the other participants being Boliden Harjavalta Works, Outokumpu Tornio Works and the Ministry of the Environment. 

Contact information

Project leader Pertti Koskinen
VTT Building and Transport
P.O. Box 1800, FIN-02044 VTT, Finland
Phone:  +358 9 456 4600
E-mail: firstname.lastname@vtt.fi