Next Article in Journal
Aristolochic Acid I Adsorption onto Medicinally Activated Carbon: Assessment of Analytical Detection, Removal, and Method Greenness
Previous Article in Journal
Interpretable Machine-Learning Prediction of Atmospheric Zinc Corrosion Depth Under Diverse Environmental Conditions
Previous Article in Special Issue
Breaking the “Forever Chemical” Cycle: A Critical Review of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Solid Waste Sources and Their Fate During Thermal Treatment
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Processes
Volume 14
Issue 8
10.3390/pr14081212
processes-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Review

Detoxification and Valorization of Hazardous Secondary Aluminum Dross: A Critical Review of Contaminant Transformation, Processing Technologies, and Emerging Frontiers

by
Zhanghua Zou
1,
Shizhong Yang
1,
Yankai Chen
1,
Zhibin Chen
1,
Jianli Huang
2,
Yuan Xie
3,
Fatih Evrendilek
4,
Wuming Xie
1,
Sheng Zhong
1,
Zuoyi Yang
1 and
Jingyong Liu
1,*
1
Guangdong Education Department Key Laboratory of Resources Comprehensive Utilization and Cleaner Production, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
2
South China Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Guangzhou 510530, China
3
Key Laboratory of Radioactive and Rare Scattered Minerals, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shaoguan 512026, China
4
Cooperative Extension, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Processes 2026, 14(8), 1212; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14081212
Submission received: 14 March 2026 / Revised: 4 April 2026 / Accepted: 7 April 2026 / Published: 10 April 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical and Microbiological Analyses of Wastes, Effluents and Materials)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Secondary aluminum dross (SAD) is classified as hazardous waste (HW48) due to its content of toxic (e.g., heavy metals, fluorides) and highly reactive phases (e.g., aluminum nitride, AlN). This review systematically synthesizes the sources, heterogeneous composition, and environmental risks of SAD, and critically evaluates state-of-the-art hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical detoxification and resource-utilization technologies. Comparative, mechanism-oriented analyses are used to elucidate the respective advantages, limitations, and scalability of wet versus thermal routes. Particular emphasis is placed on the migration, transformation, and ultimate fate of key hazardous species (AlN, fluorides, chlorides, and heavy metals) during treatment and product valorization. An integrated hydro–pyro nexus is conceptualized as synergistic hybrid processing that transcends the trade-offs between efficiency, energy consumption, and product purity that currently limit standalone technologies. Emerging hybrid process concepts, advanced additives, and circular-economy-oriented product pathways are evaluated to address current technological bottlenecks. Finally, critical knowledge gaps and research priorities are identified to accelerate safe, low-carbon, and high-value utilization of SAD.
Keywords: secondary aluminum dross; hydrometallurgy; pyrometallurgy; resource utilization; AlN secondary aluminum dross; hydrometallurgy; pyrometallurgy; resource utilization; AlN

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Zou, Z.; Yang, S.; Chen, Y.; Chen, Z.; Huang, J.; Xie, Y.; Evrendilek, F.; Xie, W.; Zhong, S.; Yang, Z.; et al. Detoxification and Valorization of Hazardous Secondary Aluminum Dross: A Critical Review of Contaminant Transformation, Processing Technologies, and Emerging Frontiers. Processes 2026, 14, 1212. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14081212

AMA Style

Zou Z, Yang S, Chen Y, Chen Z, Huang J, Xie Y, Evrendilek F, Xie W, Zhong S, Yang Z, et al. Detoxification and Valorization of Hazardous Secondary Aluminum Dross: A Critical Review of Contaminant Transformation, Processing Technologies, and Emerging Frontiers. Processes. 2026; 14(8):1212. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14081212

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zou, Zhanghua, Shizhong Yang, Yankai Chen, Zhibin Chen, Jianli Huang, Yuan Xie, Fatih Evrendilek, Wuming Xie, Sheng Zhong, Zuoyi Yang, and et al. 2026. "Detoxification and Valorization of Hazardous Secondary Aluminum Dross: A Critical Review of Contaminant Transformation, Processing Technologies, and Emerging Frontiers" Processes 14, no. 8: 1212. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14081212

APA Style

Zou, Z., Yang, S., Chen, Y., Chen, Z., Huang, J., Xie, Y., Evrendilek, F., Xie, W., Zhong, S., Yang, Z., & Liu, J. (2026). Detoxification and Valorization of Hazardous Secondary Aluminum Dross: A Critical Review of Contaminant Transformation, Processing Technologies, and Emerging Frontiers. Processes, 14(8), 1212. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14081212

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop