Editorial: Pollutant emission control in energy conversion process

Copper slag is a solid contaminant with a high recovery rate. Reduction and separation are considered to be effective methods for the treatment of copper slag. How to control the formation of contaminants during this treatment process? Zuo et al. discussed the separation and migration behavior of elements in copper slag and used the obtained mechanistic results as a theoretical guide to optimize the operating parameters to reduce the formation of contaminants. Qi et al. prepared an adsorbent by mixing sludge and steel slag from a sewage plant. Subsequently, they investigated the adsorption of chromium ions using this adsorbent mixture. As part of the analysis, the authors performed various tests to study the physical properties of the pyrolysis products, among others. The article is significant in suggesting a viable method for the effective use of steel slag.

A recent review on this Research Topic is also available for the treatment of waste carbon cathode residues from aluminum electrolysis. Li et al. provide a comprehensive summary of the rationale and technical characteristics of safe disposal strategies for this hazardous waste and offer a unique perspective on the recovery and application of valuable components from waste carbon cathodes. They summarized and discussed the latest treatment methods for waste carbon cathodes, including physical activation, alkali melting, alkali leaching, and high-temperature graphitization. They also presented a balanced, comprehensive and critical view on the development direction of clean disposal and resource utilization of waste carbon cathode residues.

For non-metallic wastes, Wei et al. investigated the adsorption and desorption performance of waste ion exchange resin-based activated carbon on fixed-bed CO2. The adsorption temperature, gas flow rate, CO2 concentration and adsorbent filling amount during adsorption, and the desorption temperature, CO2 concentration and purge gas flow rate during desorption were investigated. The successful completion of this work is of great significance to the industrial application of CO2 adsorption on waste ion exchange resin-based activated carbon and the development of carbon capture technologies.