Article Info
Abstract
Steel slag, as an industrial by-product of steel production, contains valuable elements such as manganese (Mn), calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe), which are valuable for its industrial processing and reuse. This paper deals with the chemical and microstructural analysis of steel slag with high manganese content from Navoi Engineering Plant using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The study determines Mn and Si contents in the range of 2% to 3%, showing potential for further processing to extract manganese for other applications or concentrate it for reuse in steelmaking using electric arc furnaces (EAFs). In addition, the high calcium content shows the potential to utilise steel slag in cement production, road construction and soil treatment. However, problems such as chemical heterogeneity and environmental issues of heavy metal leaching need to be addressed to optimise its industrial application. This study contributes to the sustainable utilisation of steel slag by promoting circular economy and reducing industrial waste.