A proposal for zero waste in the iron and steel industry: Zirconia nozzle waste evaluation

With the increase in environmental awareness, it is seen that there are two focusing methods in industrial production. Therefore, the usability of one sector's waste as a potential raw material for another sector can play an important role in terms of energy and cost. In the study, zirconia nozzles, used in the iron and steel industry, are consumed quickly. It is aimed at finding a solution to the accumulation of waste formed by the end of service life of them. In the first part of the study, it was investigated the integrating waste zirconia nozzles from the Bilecik Iron and Steel Company (Bilecik, Turkey) into the production of ceramic floor tiles. After processing and firing in an industrial kiln, the formulated recipes are subjected to comprehensive physical and mechanical evaluations [19]. In the second part of the study, to aim for zero waste, existing waste was evaluated in the production of refractory bricks, and the use of alternative resources to zirconia, an expensive raw material, was examined. It showed the potential of waste zirconium nozzles as a sustainable alternative in ceramic tile/refractory production. It demonstrates its feasibility in reducing waste generation, lowering production costs, and promoting environmentally sound practices without compromising.