Context:
Recently, the member (Science) of Niti Aayog released the Guidelines for Utilization and Processing of Steel Slag as Processed Steel Slag Aggregates in Road Construction.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
About Steel Slag
- Industrial Byproduct: Obtained from the steel manufacturing industry as a byproduct.
- Production: Generated in large quantities during steel-making operations using electric arc furnaces or smelting iron ore in basic oxygen furnaces.
- Composition: Primarily consists of calcium, magnesium, manganese, aluminum silicates, and oxides in various combinations, formed during the cooling process.
Applications of Steel Slag
- Environmental Remediation:
- Used as a barrier material in waste sites to prevent heavy metals from leaching into the environment.
- The high oxide mineral content of steel slag helps in precipitating heavy metals from water runoff.
- Water Treatment:
- Successfully employed to treat acidic water discharges from abandoned mines.
- Construction Industry:
- Can replace coarse aggregate in concrete due to its higher impact and crushing strength.
- Offers better anti-skid capacity compared to conventional aggregates.
