Chemical recycling of inorganic wastes by using phase separation of glass

A chemical recycling process using phase separation of glass was applied to a granulated blast furnace slag with high CaO content. Glasses were prepared by adding B(2)O(3) to the slag in order to promote phase separation, and the glasses were heat-treated above glass transition temperature. In the subsequent acid-treatment, however, gelation due to the elution of SiO(2) phase containing CaO occurred, not obtaining high SiO(2) solids. Then, pretreatment was introduced to reduce CaO content in slag, where the raw slag was briefly washed in acid. The slag glasses prepared from the pretreated slag were commonly phase-separated by heat-treatment regardless of B(2)O(3) content. After subsequent acid-treatment, colorless insoluble solids were successfully recovered. The end products consist of 70-90 mass% SiO(2), and coloring ions such as Mn, Fe and Cr were almost completely removed from the slag glasses. Reutilization as raw materials for glass is expected.