Investigations on the metallurgical use of CRT and LCD glass [smelting flux applications]

The non-ferrous smelting industry is a major consumer of silica flux with the aim of forming a fayalite slag. Whereas lead-silicate glass, with lead oxide as a major constituent, is being used as a slag former at lead smelters, copper smelters have been reluctant. The integration of CRT and LCD glass fractions into slags has been investigated. The application of the precautionary principle asks for smelters to know of the composition of the glass fractions and of the where-about of all the constituents of the various glasses. In this paper, recent investigations of WEEE glass fractions are reported. Within this study, the possibilities of using WEEE glass fractions as silica flux in a copper smelter is investigated.