Professor Veena Sahajwalla

Sustainable processing of materials based on fundamentals of high temperature reactions occurring in metallurgical processes described above.. These include transforming existing industries and develop new materials processes to enhance sustainabbility by decreasing pollution, GHG emissions, energy consumption and improving eco-efficiency of materials processing. Projects underway include investigation of innovative lower temperature blast furnace process, utilisation of waste plastics in ironmaking and steelmaking technologies.

Fresh Innovators Award 2004 for work in Sustainable Processing; Press Release 12 December 2004.

The research focuses on the development of new sustainable processes for materials industries to address environmental, economic, and social issues. Sustainable Materials Processing Research in the School of Materials Science and Engineering has an international reputation in creative, innovative, and commercial research in materials processing, as evidenced by several international awards given to the lead researcher, as well as to the research team.

Our Vision: Develop environmentally, economically, and socially viable routes for materials processing that will lead to a sustainable materials industry.

Our Mission: Provide research solutions that promote and enhance the development of sustainable materials processes and contribute to the sustainability of materials industry.

Research Aims: To investigate and develop processes that minimise pollution, waste, and energy consumption while increasing recyclability and adding value to waste materials.

The research in Sustainable Materials Processing is funded by various International and Australian companies, the Australian Research Council and other Government organisations. One example of an ongoing research project is provided below.

Sustainable development demands environmentally and economically sound solutions to the disposal of waste plastics. In the last fifty years, the plastics industry has seen tremendous growth and plastic products are now a critical part of our lifestyle. However, there are increasing problems with disposal of plastics. In Australia, more than 1 million tonnes of plastic is consumed every year with only 13% being recycled (in 2002), and internationally, plastics recycling accounts for a small proportion of material recovery.

Professor Veena Sahajwalla and her research team in the School of Materials Science and Engineering have shown that plastics could become a valuable resource in EAF steelmaking. Carbon based polymers can be effectively utilised to produce 'slag foaming' - (a chemical reaction of significant importance in EAF) and thus have the capability to partially replace coal/coke which is conventionally used. Research in our laboratories has shown that mixtures of coke and high density polyethylene were successful in causing slag foaming. Such reactions are extremely important in the process of EAF steelmaking. These studies have shown that in addition to the existing processes of utilising waste plastics, steelmaking offers another recycling avenue for those plastics which may not be easily recycled using the existing routes. The charging of waste plastics into the furnace provides an effective way of disposing them. There are significant social and environmental benefits associated with using waste plastics in EAF. This will also promote sustainable processing of materials.

Eureka Prize Award winner 2005 for Scientific Research for demonstrating a method to use waste plastic to make steel. More information.

 

Awarded a prestigious prize from the US Association 2006 for Iron and Steel Technology (AIST), for ongoing work in developing ways to use recycled plastics instead of coal in steelmaking. More information.

 

If you are interested in any of these areas or would like more information, please send an email to Professor Veena Sahajwalla veena@unsw.edu.au