Work

Research on the possibility of using olive pit biomass in recycling metals from slag

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: According to the EU Sustainable Development Goals, it is necessary to search for new technologies that promote sustainable development and optimize the use of resources, raw materials and energy. This article presents the results of research on the use of biomass in metal recycling processes. Unlike fossil fuels, including the coke used in metallurgy, biomass is characterized by a closed carbon cycle. The research results prove that the use of biomass (e.g., olive pits) agents as reductants in the pyrometallurgical process of copper and lead recovery is effective and can be implemented in industrial practice. The significant reduction in copper content in waste slag allows this material to be classified as safe industrial waste, in accordance with standard legal requirements for waste management. This also has an impact on the carbon footprint of the pyrometallurgical process for processing secondary metal-bearing raw materials. As the research results show, the use of biomass led to a 98% reduction in copper and over 60% reduction in lead from the tested slag.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-28334-6