Advances in grinding sludge valorisation and recovery in the manufacturing industries

Sludge generation worldwide yearly amounts to about 12 million tons. One of the hazardous waste products generated during iron and steel manufacturing is sludge. The industrialization of developing countries and the manufacturing of steel are expected to drive these figures even further upward. Sludge and slag waste management is challenging due to its value, unpredictability, and huge quantities produced at different sites. Another problem is the current frequent practice of landfilling. Since steel sludge is essentially constituted of iron, this study aims to investigate scalable, practical recycling methods currently used in present industrial processes. Among the methods to manage large volumes of sludge and provide immediate use are mechanical treatments, powder metallurgical, hydrometallurgical, and creative techniques. This review paper on sludge grinding in the bearing industry emphasizes the possibilities of bearing and transmission steel technology to turn low-value waste into valuable resources. It provides reasonably priced, ecologically acceptable approaches for industrially recycling metal waste. These processes not only promote industrial sustainability goals but also reduce environmental hazards for resource recovery by leveraging transmission steel technology, thereby providing a feasible road forward.