Work

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Hierarchical Boehmite from Co-Processed Stainless Steel Dust and Aluminum Dross Residue

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Stainless steel dust and aluminum dross are large-volume solid wastes in the metallurgical industry. Synergistic treatment of these wastes recovers some metals but yields an Al-rich residue (Al2O3 > 50%) that represents both a resource loss and an environmental threat if untreated. In this work, boehmite (γ-AlOOH) was synthesized via a hydrothermal route using the Al-rich residue as the aluminum source. The aim was to valorize this waste stream while comprehensively evaluating the product’s phase, morphology, pore characteristics, efficacy and underlying mechanism for Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solutions. The hydrothermal process was optimized as pH = 11.0, under which high-purity and well-crystallized γ-AlOOH was successfully prepared without harmful by-products. The product had uniform particle size distribution without obvious agglomeration, with a specific surface area of 156.7 m2/g, pore volume of 0.60 cm3/g and average pore diameter of 14.6 nm. The boehmite synthesized at pH 11.0 achieved a Cr(VI) removal efficiency of 31.28% and a maximum adsorption capacity of 15.64 mg/g. This study provides a new path for the resource utilization of high-aluminum residue, with both environmental and economic benefits and potential application value.

Source: Metals

DOI: 10.3390/met16050455

Authors: Hongda Yao, Nan Wang, Min Chen, Xiaoqing Chen

Institution: Northeastern University

Language: English

Topic: Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal

Subfield: Water Science and Technology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137