**2. Steelmaking plant wastes as raw materials for clay brick production**

generating residue, the solid residues may be managed through a more noble and environ-

There are basically two main routes for steel production; they are the integrated route and the semi-integrated route. At the first route, the reduction of ore, including iron ore, coal or charcoal, and fluxing agents, occurs in the blast furnace to generate pig iron, in which it is then refined to produce steel, while in the second route the steel is directly produced in electric arc

During the steelmaking at both routes and also at the reefing step, the main residues generated can be divided into categories such as slag, sludge, and dust [2]. The mineralogical and chemical compositions of each of these wastes vary according to the raw materials employed in the process and to what they have as common elements, mostly composed of iron, carbon, calcium, magnesium, silicon, and manganese and still containing smaller proportions of alu-

It is preferable that the valorization of the solid wastes is carried out on the steelmaking route itself; however, if this practice is not possible, it is necessary to look for other productive processes capable of incorporating this waste as raw material. In association with this practice, it is desired that these wastes, when hazardous or not inert, are inertized in order to reduce their toxicity. In this sense, it is verified that much of this waste is still disposed in landfills or sent for incineration; even if this constitutes an environmentally correct practice, it is considered

The ceramic industry for civil construction has gained prominence in recent years due to its potential for incorporation of solid waste generated in the most diverse industrial activities. This potential is based primarily on the characteristics of the raw material and the high pro-

The basic raw material for the bricks and roofing tiles manufacturing is clay, and due to the nature of its formation, it has natural variability in its chemical and mineralogical composition. This variation, coupled with the low technical performance required for its products, allows residues of different compositions to be incorporated into the ceramic clayey body. In addition to direct environmental benefit, technical improvements in processing or product quality may occur, and even energy savings can be generated when certain wastes are incorporated with combustibility characteristics. Another notorious benefit is the possibility of inertization, in the ceramic matrix, toxic metals contained in these residues [5]. Dondi, Marsigli, and Fabbri [6] still emphasize the function of improving sustainable development by providing the economy of clay, which is a natural nonre-

The purpose of this book chapter was to provide a summary based on existing scientific references on the environmental, technical, and economic benefits of using the waste generated in the steelmaking process as a raw material for the ceramic industry, seeking, whenever possible, to correlate the characteristics of the residues and their influence on the properties and

minum, zinc, alkaline earth metals, and traces of other elements [3].

26 Current Topics in the Utilization of Clay in Industrial and Medical Applications

the least noble practice according to solid waste management [2].

duction volume in this industrial sector [4].

newable resource.

microstructure of the ceramics.

mentally correct destination.

furnace [1].
