Chrome waste could get a second life in Kazakhstan

Scientists Target Hexavalent Chromium.

Kazakh and Russian researchers are joining forces to reduce the environmental impact of chromium-containing waste and recycle its valuable components, reports DKNews.kz.

Scientists from the Zh. Abishev Chemical-Metallurgical Institute, part of the National Center on Complex Processing of Mineral Raw Materials of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Institute of Metallurgy of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences are launching the joint project.

Research Focuses on a Dangerous Form of Chromium

The scientists' primary objective is hexavalent chromium. They intend to determine the forms of chromium found in industrial waste and then develop technological solutions to reduce the impact of Cr(VI).

A joint working group has been formed for this purpose. It includes Alexander Kim, Doctor of Engineering Sciences; Ruslan Sultangaziyev, PhD, Associate Professor; and Oleg Zayakin, Doctor of Engineering Sciences.

The research will cover waste from the Aktobe Chemical Plant and Kazakhstan's ferroalloy production facilities. Materials from plants in Pervouralsk and Novotroitsk will also be included in the work.

"Following the meeting, we defined a specific plan for joint work. The first stage will involve conducting a detailed study of the waste's composition and properties, determining the forms of chromium, and, based on this, substantiating the most effective technological solutions aimed at reducing the impact of hexavalent chromium and recycling valuable waste components," noted working group member Alexander Kim.

Waste to be returned to the production cycle

Researchers view chromium-containing waste not only as an environmental problem but also as a potential source of raw materials.

If the technology is successfully developed, recycling will allow valuable waste components to be recycled. At the same time, controlling the formation of hexavalent chromium should reduce the potential environmental impact of metallurgical production.

For Kazakhstan, this approach is particularly relevant for enterprises in the chrome and ferroalloy industries, where industrial production generates man-made raw materials.

The National Center on Complex Processing of Mineral Raw Materials identifies the processing of mineral resources and technological support for the mining and metallurgical complex as one of its areas of work.

First, scientists will analyze the waste by composition

Before developing a specific technology, researchers will need to determine the composition and properties of the materials. Particular attention will be paid to the form in which the chromium is present, as this determines the choice of method for further processing and neutralization of environmentally active compounds.

Therefore, this is still a research phase, not a fully developed industrial technology. The working group must first obtain data that will be used to justify the most effective technological solutions.

This collaboration will also allow Kazakh and Russian specialists to combine the experimental capabilities of the two research teams.

The working visit was also timed to coincide with an event in honor of the 95th birthday of Professor Vladimir Zhuchkov.

Source: dknews.kz