Jamshedpur: Steel plants’ slag and fly ash could soon find use in 3D-printed homes and durable roads, while discarded mobile phones, computers and batteries could become a source of lithium, gold and copper. These technologies were presented by scientists at the two day international conference CIRCON-2026, which concluded at Beldih Club in Jamshedpur on Friday. More than 200 experts took part in the conference organised on a common platform of the Indian Institute of Metals (IIM), Tata Steel and CSIR-NML.
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Researchers presented construction material developed by combining steel slag with fly ash generated by power plants. The material can be used in advanced 3D concrete printing to build houses and roads, reducing dependence on conventional aggregates such as stone chips and sand. Scientists also reported successful use of carbonated slag for improving barren land and supplying nutrients for crops, opening another possible application for steel-making waste.
E-Waste Emerged as an Urban Mining Source
Another major area discussed at the conference was urban mining, which focuses on recovering valuable materials from discarded electronic products instead of extracting them from fresh mineral deposits. Scientists presented methods to recover lithium, gold and copper from used computers, mobile phones, solar panels and other electronic waste. A process for restoring used lithium-ion batteries, widely used in electric vehicles, was also presented as part of efforts to recover materials and extend battery use.
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The technologies showcased at the conference also pointed to a growing market for products made from industrial waste. Startups including Saltech, Climitra, Paving Plus and Carbon Strong displayed bricks, tiles and paver blocks made from waste materials. Experts from the UK, Netherlands and Italy also participated in the conference and discussed the scope for taking such technologies from laboratories to commercial production. The focus on construction materials and recovery of scarce metals reflects a shift towards treating industrial and electronic waste as a source of usable resources rather than simply as disposal material.
