Management of selected waste generated during cable production

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Industrial waste, particularly from cable insulation production and aluminum sludge, presents disposal challenges.
• Current waste management often relies on less sustainable methods like thermal transformation.
• Developing circular economy strategies is crucial for resource efficiency and environmental protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the recovery of valuable organic compounds from cable insulation waste.
• To explore the utilization of aluminum sludge in wastewater treatment.
• To establish a closed-loop waste management system for industrial byproducts.

Main Methods:

• Waste distillation process to isolate acetophenone fraction from cable insulation waste.
• Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for compound identification.
• Neutralization of aqueous fractions and distillation residues.
• Production of aluminum sulfate from aluminum sludge for use as a coagulant.

Main Results:

• Recovery of 49% acetophenone, 6.8% α-methylstyrene, and 17.2% cumyl alcohol from waste.
• Successful production of aluminum sulfate from aluminum sludge.
• Application of aluminum sulfate reduced total iron by 67%, trivalent iron by 60%, and chemical oxygen demand by 32% in sewage treatment.
• Proposed waste management offers an alternative to thermal transformation.

Conclusions:

• Valuable raw materials can be effectively recovered from industrial waste streams.
• Aluminum sludge can be repurposed into a functional coagulant for wastewater treatment.
• Implemented strategies contribute to a closed-loop waste management system, promoting resource recovery and environmental sustainability.