An example of Circular Economy: The importance of salt slag valorisation

The process of aluminium wastes recycling to obtain secondary aluminium alloys requires melting salts. Their key role is related to the removal of the metallic oxides which are presented in the recycling process. This fact contributes to the salt slags generation, hazardous waste (code 100308). In Europe, more than 1 million of tons per year are produced.

Since 1990, this hazardous waste is valorised by Befesa Aluminio by the means of 5 complex steps, which allow the recovery of three different products: aluminium concentrates, salts and secondary aluminium oxide. All of them return to the market.

Befesa Aluminio, in numbers:

Value more than 600.000 tons per year of salt slags.

Annually, Befesa puts on the market: 360.000 tons of secondary aluminium alloy; 150.000 tons of recovered melting salt and 35.000 tons of aluminium metal.

The aluminium metal concentrates and recovery melting salts return to the tilting rotary furnaces to produce new secondary aluminium alloys. On its hand, the secondary aluminium oxide, with Al₂O₃ content between 60-70% in weight, is considered as recycled alumina resource, which is shown as alternative natural resources in several applications.

The valorisation of salt slags contributes to close the aluminium recycling circle and allow to progress to high value new application aligned to the sustainability and circular economy, the mainstay of our Group.