Alternative Applications of SPL: Testing Ideas Through Experiments and Mathematical Modeling

Spent pot lining (SPL) is a well-known waste product from the aluminium electrolytic cell. The SPL generation rate is approximately 1–1.5 million tons per annum, and this is a significant environmental burden to the aluminium industry. Previous reports indicated that more than half of the total amount of SPL generated is stored in lined/ unlined sites/buildings, waiting for further treatment. At the University of Toronto, the Process Metallurgy and Modelling Group (PM2G) is working extensively to understand the chemistry of SPL and find alternate applications of SPL. Some of the potential applications of SPL conceptualized at the University of Toronto are: (a) as a flux in the non ferrous industry, (b) as an alternate to coal in ironmaking blast furnaces. Experimental and mathematical modeling techniques have been used to test these ideas, and the results are discussed in detail.