Metal Recycling Process
Raam kumar Selvan
Assistant Professor | Technical Mentor | Startup Coach | Additive Manufacturing Researcher | Placement Coordinator
Metal recycling is a crucial process that helps conserve natural resources, reduce energy consumption, and minimize waste. It begins with the collection of scrap metals from sources like industrial waste, old vehicles, appliances, and construction debris. These materials are sorted using methods such as magnets for ferrous metals, eddy current separators for non-ferrous metals, and optical sensors for advanced separation. Once sorted, the metals are shredded into smaller pieces and cleaned to remove contaminants like paint or plastics. The prepared scrap is then melted in furnaces tailored to specific metals, such as blast furnaces for steel or reverberatory furnaces for aluminum. The molten metal undergoes purification processes, such as electrolysis or chemical treatments, to remove impurities and ensure quality. After purification, the metal is cast into molds or forms like bars, rods, or sheets, and cooled to solidify.