University of New South Wales Professor Veena Sahajwalla has won the Eureka Award for her work in developing a process that uses the carbon from waste plastics in the steel-making process. The process is doubly-effective, saving the coal used as a carbon source and also using the plastic as fuel—thus reducing the power requirements of the furnace. The high temperatures of the steelmaking process also prevent the release of toxins such as dioxin, which are produced when the plastics are incinerated by conventional means. Sahajwalla estimates that approximately 30% of the coal used in the steelmaking process can be replaced by waste plastics.

Sahajwalla is collaborating with leading steel producers in Australia and the United States. She says they are excited about the potential of the process. “We are currently testing mixtures of waste plastics, and we hope to implement our technology in the steel industry in Australia and the United States within the next two years.”

Source: Eureka Prize Award

Additional References:

• UNSW News Release #1
• UNSW News Release #2
• NEWS.com.au Article