Exploiting the geochemical behaviour of inorganic residues in view of waste valorization

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Current and forecasted levels of worldwide industrial activities, driven by an expanding, increasingly more urbanized global population, have surpassed the sustainable thresholds of natural resources and the environment. In particular, management of corrosive/toxic waste is an ongoing issue for mining and metallurgical industries in Canada and globally. However, perception towards them has gradually shifted; many waste streams are now considered low-cost alternatives to virgin resources, making it possible to diminish their environmental footprint, and close production life-cycles. Therefore, research in waste valorization technologies, in combination with understanding physical and thermodynamic behaviours of the materials, is crucial.***The central theme of my research program is the valorization of inorganic industrial residues, substantiated by knowledge of material behaviour. Three valorization approaches are considered: (i) conversion of the wastes into high-value products; (ii) stabilization of the wastes for safe application or storage; and (iii) extraction of valuable components from the wastes.***The short-term objective of this NSERC-supported program is to apply advanced analytical techniques to better characterize the intrinsic mineralogical, micro-structural and geochemical properties of slag minerals, with a focus on amorphous and meta-stable phases. A new series of minerals will be studied, and a wider consideration of different heavy-metals will be made, in view of future slag chemistries and more stringent leaching regulations. The approach taken consists of: (a) synthesizing crystalline and amorphous minerals; (b) characterizing the elemental distribution, the heavy-metal speciation, and the presence of solid-solutions in the minerals; and (c) assessing the geochemical behaviour of the prepared materials when subjected to various treatment processes. The linking of analytical data, laboratory treatment test results and modelling predictions will provide valuable insight into weathering and waste valorization reactions.***The knowledge generated will serve to develop industrial processes that can use the residues as input materials; to predict long-term release behaviour into the environment during storage; and to preemptively modify the residue composition during production. In particular, this knowledge will support research activities in the areas of biomining, atom-efficient processing, in-situ remediation and catalyst development. With a focus on utilization/valorization of inorganic residues, this research program is expected to lead to innovative industrial processes and product applications.**