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

• Published in: Resources policy 2022-03, Vol.75, p.102462, Article 102462
• Main Author: Jandieri, Gigo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; Economic models; Efficiency; Efficiency index; Human influences; Industrial wastes; Manganese; Manufacturing; Mathematical models; Metal reduction and extraction; Metal-bearing secondary resources; Metallurgy; Metals; Ore substitution index; Recycling; Recycling efficiency index; Recycling intensification algorithm; Treatment needs; Wastes
• ISSN: 0301-4207; 1873-7641
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2021.102462

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. •Intensification of recycling due to expansion of the range and volume of recyclable industrial waste.•The break-even point of recycling defines the waste conditionality threshold and is a key factor for intensification.•The lower the threshold of conditionality, the higher the quanti