Review of Resource Utilization Technology of Steel Slag and Carbon Capture Utilization

Steel slag is a kind of alkaline solid waste produced in the process of steel production. In China, the annual steel slag production is very large but the utilization rate is only 20%. Therefore, technologies disposing steel slag effectively need to be developed. In traditional resource utilization technology, steel slag is used in sintering flux, road construction, cement and concrete production, preparation of glass ceramics and agriculture. In these fields, we mainly give full play to steel slag’s mechanical properties. Although these traditional technologies are simple and easy to use, the main reason for their limited application is the low value of resource-based products and the lack of market competitiveness. Therefore, some new exploration has been made on the resource utilization of steel slag, including dephosphorization of sewage, heavy metal adsorption, hazardous gas removal, fixed CO2 by mineral carbonation. Compared with the traditional resource utilization technologies, these new technologies mainly utilize the physical and chemical properties of steel slag, such as alkalinity and pore characteristics. However, these new technologies also have some limitations, so it is necessary to develop a resource-based technology with strong pertinency, large consumption and high added value of products to treat steel slag. Carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas leading to global climate change. At present, China’s carbon dioxide emissions are high, so it is urgent to develop effective carbon dioxide emission reduction technology. In recent years, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technology has received extensive attention. This paper summarizes the carbon capture utilization and sequestration technology, and discusses its problems at present.