Hyundai Steel works on method to recycle shellfish and oyster shell for furnace

By Lim Chang-won Posted : July 20, 2021, 17:30 Updated : July 20, 2021, 17:30

[Gettyimages Bank]

SEOUL -- Hyundai Steel, affiliated with South Korea's Hyundai auto group, is in the final phase of introducing a method to recycle shellfish and oyster shells that have been an environmental issue due to a huge accumulation of waste mainly along the southern coast. South Korea is one of Asia's biggest oyster farming countries. 

Adding limestone in the process of sintering iron ore for furnace injection can improve productivity and reduce fuel costs. Hyundai Steel has launched a project to replace limestone with powder made by processing shell pieces in collaboration with a domestic shell processing company.

Hyundai Steel has completed the evaluation of quality through mock-up tests. Environmental assessment is underway, and the steelmaker would seek approval from the state-run National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER). Shells can reduce the discharge of air pollutants from steel mills. 

According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, more than one million tons of oyster and shellfish waste are left unattended every year. The management of oyster shell disposal at aquafarms is an ongoing challenge in South Korea.
Lim Chang-won

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