A metallurgical furnace capable of processing iron-containing industrial waste along with solid waste has been The pilot installation has the capacity to smelt up to 16,000 tons of metal per year. Source: National University of Science and Technology MISiSfired up in Mtsensk, Russia. The pilot installation designed by researchers from the National University of Science and Technology MISiS and industrial partner Vtoraluminprodukt has the capacity to smelt up to 16,000 tons of metal per year while simultaneously generating electric power.

The bubbling reactor system is engineered to fully process industrial waste, slags and sludge in addition to municipal solid waste as well as produce iron and non-ferrous metals. The technology is based on gas flushing, which involves bubbling a chemically inert gas, such as nitrogen, argon or helium, through a liquid. This can be used to remove dissolved gases such as oxygen from the liquid.

The recycling technology boasts reduced stack emissions and energy costs that are 20% to 30% lower relative to other processing systems. According to the developers, energy costs can be limited to 500 kg of coal and 500 nm³ of oxygen per ton of cast iron. The processing scheme can be tailored to accommodate different slag chemistries for the manufacture of slag stone products or cement clinker.