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ENVIRONMENT

Slags. By-products

The European Slag Conference - Euroslag 2010

In 2010 UNESID hosted the 6th European Slag Conference EUROSLAG 2010. More than 250 delegates gathered in Madrid from 20 to 22 October, attending a conference that drew delegations from over 25 countries throughout the world, with the remit being to promote the use of slags and share the latest know-how in the field. Amongst the general conclusions reached by the conference, a highlight was that the slag from steel manufacturing is a by-product generated during the steel production process with certain specific properties that, when treated, make it an extremely valuable material for other uses, such as road building and other public works. The slags from steel production are also used in cement manufacturing, as well as in new emerging uses, which range from water treatment through to the reconstruction of seabed areas for the recovery of marine vegetation or coral reefs.

Steel producers, slag processors, researchers and end consumers pooled their efforts at EUROSLAG 2010 in order to optimise the advantages of each one of these uses and extend the potential of new slag applications.

The Conference discussed technical and environmental matters as well as safety, market and research issues. Stress was placed on the contribution that slags make to sustainable development, as summarised by the Chairman of Euroslag Dr. Heribert Motz, by reducing demand and the environmental impact caused by the mining of aggregates at quarries; the reduction in both CO2 emissions and energy consumption; and the reduced need for the use of landfills by the steel manufacturing sector.

In addition, repeated mention was made of the need for the public authorities’ greater involvement and support in two key issues; promoting the sustainable use of slags to exploit their technical specifications and environmental benefits and driving research and development in the field of slags.