Samsung Electronics-Hyundai Steel Develop New Technology for Semiconductor Waste Recycling

New Technology for Recycling Semiconductor Process Wastewater Sludge
Development of 'Hyeongseok' Replacement Technology to Filter Impurities in Steelmaking
Hyundai Steel Expected to Replace Half of Annual 2t Hyeongseok Import Volume

[Asia Economy Reporter Su-yeon Woo] Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Steel have succeeded in developing a new technology that can recycle waste generated from semiconductor processes as a raw material substitute in steelmaking processes. Through this development, Hyundai Steel is expected to replace more than half of the raw materials it imports annually, about 20,000 tons, with semiconductor waste (wastewater sludge) from Samsung Electronics, setting a model case of ‘eco-friendly resource recycling’ between companies.

On the 27th, Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Steel announced that they jointly developed a new technology that can replace ‘fluorspar’ used in steelmaking processes with wastewater sludge (sediment) generated from semiconductor manufacturing processes. In steelworks, a substance called fluorspar is used to remove impurities (sulfur and phosphorus) from molten iron, and this research focused on the fact that the main component (calcium fluoride) contained in semiconductor wastewater sludge is similar to fluorspar.

Previously, in August last year, Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Steel, and Steel Ceramics signed a technology agreement related to wastewater sludge recycling and began joint research. In April this year, they succeeded in producing 30 tons of steel using wastewater sludge as a fluorspar substitute at Hyundai Steel’s Dangjin steelworks. This technology underwent the first evaluation by the Korea Environment Corporation in June and the final evaluation by the National Institute of Environmental Research in August, receiving final approval at the end of August.

Fluorspar, which has been used in existing steelmaking processes, is a mineral entirely imported from overseas, including South America and China. Hyundai Steel, which imports 20,000 tons of fluorspar annually, plans to replace about half of this amount, approximately 10,000 tons, with recycled wastewater sludge starting as early as the end of October and gradually increase its usage.

With this technology development, Samsung Electronics can expand the use of wastewater sludge, which had previously been reused only in limited places such as cement factories, and Hyundai Steel is expected to significantly reduce fluorspar purchasing costs. The industry highly values this research for actively responding to the government’s resource circulation policy and creating a new model of resource recycling through collaboration between companies.

In particular, the National Institute of Environmental Research regards this development as the most exemplary case since the establishment of the Recycling Environmental Assessment system in 2016 (a system that allows the use of recycled materials outside the Waste Management Act regulations after prior impact assessment). The institute plans to provide continuous support through more proactive environmental assessments so that wastes that were difficult to recycle due to technological and institutional limitations can be widely recycled.

Jang Sung-dae, Head of the Environment and Safety Center at Samsung Electronics’ DS Division, said, "Samsung Electronics will continue to strengthen ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management by developing eco-friendly resource circulation technologies with the goal of achieving 100% waste recycling rates."

Choi Joo-tae, Head of Research and Development and Quality at Hyundai Steel, emphasized, "Securing resources through this recycling technology will be an important strategic element and competitiveness for eco-friendly future steelworks. We will overcome the limitations of finite resources by establishing a circulation structure of resources and energy through various environmental energy technologies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.