Thermodynamic modelling of the injection of waste products into a blast furnace

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the possibility to use blast furnaces for recycling of household and industrial wastes. In this respect, recycling conditions and requirements to utilize waste products are considered. The structure of waste products allowable for recycling in the blast furnace has been studied. Their behaviour is simulated at higher temperatures both in the presence (gasification, combustion) and in the absence (pyrolysis) of reactive gases. The possibility of formation of different components and their maximal concentrations, including dioxins and furans, are predicted. The results obtained prove not only the possibility, but highly recommend to use blast furnaces for the recycling of waste products, particularly plastics and other materials with high contents of carbon and hydrogen. This method guarantees not only the destruction but also the maximal effective use of the above-mentioned chemical components leading to the formation of ecologically safe products. One of the main problems in the recycling of waste products by thermal decomposition is the formation of dioxins and furans. However, the investigations conducted show that concentrations of dioxins and furans in the blast-furnace gas do not exceed the allowed concentration limits.