A generalized model for assessing and intensifying the recycling of metal-bearing industrial waste: A new approach to the resource policy of manganese industry in Georgia

A generalized model for assessing the overall, techno-economic-ecological efficiency of recycling metal-bearing technogeneous resources has been developed, based on a mathematical model for analyzing the break-even point, specially improved for this purpose. An algorithm for theoretical calculations has been compiled, which also incorporates a sequence of techno-organizational operations for maximizing the efficiency of the recycling system. As a particular case, an example of assessing the effectiveness and the possibility of intensifying recycling of manufacturing waste of the manganese industry of Georgia was considered. It is shown that the intensification of the internal industrial recycling of manganese-bearing wastes is associated with the need for their preliminary treatment, bringing to the condition necessary for break-even processing. Through theoretical-computational analysis of the recycling efficiency index (REI), it is determined that in the case of pyrometallurgical processing, the condition of break-even is the presence of manganese in the recycled raw material in the amount not less than 24%. In the case of hydrometallurgical processing, this threshold is reduced up to 7%. Consequently, resources that satisfy these conditions or can satisfy them after pretreatment should be classified as suitable for recycling and included in the special state register of metal-bearing technogenic deposits. Only that part of industrial waste, in which it is technically impossible or economically unprofitable to provide the specified threshold concentrations, can be disposed of in other industries. The proposed approach to assessing and intensifying the efficiency of recycling will make it possible to significantly expand the resource base of metallurgical production in Georgia. Herewith, on average, the degree of beneficial use of manganese will be increased by 45-50%. Depending on the quality of currently consumed manganese concentrates (Mn 48-28%) the degree of reduction of their consumption rate will reach 30-60%. This will extend the life cycle of the Chiatura manganese mine by 25-30 years. Harmful anthropogenic impact on the environment will be reduced by 3.4-3.5 times.

Automated summary

A generalized model has been developed for evaluating the efficiency of recycling metal-bearing technogeneous resources, based on a mathematical model and algorithm, determining the recycling efficiency index and processing conditions, thus achieving effective recycling and utilization of waste materials.