Research on co-disposal and utilization of ferrous packaging containers contaminated with hazardous wastes by steel converter

The disposal of waste oil, paint and coating barrels (WOPCBs) after use is an ongoing social and environmental problem. In this paper, a novel technological scheme using steel converter co-processing is proposed for the safe disposal and resource utilization of WOPCBs. The scheme is mainly composed of WOPCBs pretreatment and converter disposal, focusing on the impact of converter co-processing WOPCBs on the environment and production process. Compared to the traditional technology, the scheme presented takes full advantages of the production process and environmental protection facilities of steel converter, and has many advantages, such as a large disposal capacity, low cost, highly efficient and environmentally friendly. The industrial trials results show that after adding 180–540 kg WOPCBs to each furnace load (nominal capacity 250 t), the converter operation is safe and controllable, and all the pollutant emission indicators generated in the process meet the Chinese national standards. In addition, WOPCBs are suitable to be used as a supplementary material for scrap steel. Therefore, this study provides important insights for sustainable resource utilization from WOPCBs.