Reuse and valorization in civil works of electric arc furnace (EAF) slag produced in C.A.P.V.

The steelworks produced annually in the Basque Country is in the range of 700,000 tons of EAF slags (oxidizing). One of the possible reuses for these waste materials could be derived from their reutilization in civil works, partially substituting raw materials in roads, concrete and cement. The aim of this paper is to carry out a study about several properties regarding the EAF slag, produced in the 11 factories considered for this work, in order to determine the valorization of this waste materials through its potential application to: bituminous mixes, granular bases, aggregates for concrete and raw material in the production of cement. This paper aims to suggest recommendations which should lead to a safe use of EAF slag in civil works from a technical point of view. Nowadays, the 38% of the total steelworks of Spain is being produced in the Basque Country (CAPV), with a production of 5.2 × 10⁶ tons per year. The different waste materials produced in CAPV are shown on the table 1. The European administrations are giving priority to the reuse of waste materials, in order to minimise dumping in local landfills. For this reason, the future for the steelworks factories, considering economical issues, is the reuse of all their by-products if this was technically possible.