Abstract
The production of low-carbon ferrochrome is inevitably accompanied by the formation of significant volumes of slags, the key feature of which is their ability to spontaneously disintegrate upon cooling and exposure to atmospheric factors. This phenomenon is caused by polymorphic transformations of β-dicalcium silicate (C2S) into the γ-modification, accompanied by an increase in volume. This unique characteristic, on the one hand, creates challenges in waste management, on the other hand, it opens up wide opportunities for their efficient and cost-effective disposal without the need for expensive crushing. This review article is a systematic analysis and generalization of modern high-performance world-class technologies for the use of self-decaying slags produced by low-carbon ferrochrome. Special attention is paid to their use in the production of building materials (cements, concretes, binders), sorbents for water treatment, ameliorants for agriculture, as well as in road construction. This paper provides a literary review of fifty-seven sources published over the past ten years describing the most effective technologies for the use of self-decaying slags for the production of low-carbon ferrochrome.The purpose of the article is to demonstrate the potential of these slags as valuable secondary raw materials that contribute to reducing the environmental burden, increasing the resource efficiency of ferroalloy production and developing the principles of circular economy.