Gestão da Produção Mais Limpa (P+L) no setor de Aço: Estratégia para Redução de Impactos Ambientais e Otimização de Processos Industriais
Gestão da Produção Mais Limpa (P+L) no setor de Aço: Estratégia para Redução de Impactos Ambientais e Otimização de Processos Industriais
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.185112624024
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Palavras-chave: Descarbonização. Economia Circular. Impactos Ambientais. Produção Mais Limpa. Siderurgia. Sustentabilidade Industrial.
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Keywords: Cleaner Production. Steel Industry. Environmental Impacts. Circular Economy. Industrial Sustainability. Decarbonization.
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Abstract: The steel industry plays a strategic role in the global economy; however, it is responsible for approximately 7% to 11% of global CO₂ emissions, in addition to causing significant impacts related to water and energy consumption and the generation of solid waste. In this context, Cleaner Production (CP) emerges as a strategic and preventive approach aimed at reducing environmental impacts at their source through process optimization, efficient resource use, and the valorization of waste as co-products. This study aimed to demonstrate the applicability of Cleaner Production as a strategy for reducing environmental impacts and optimizing industrial processes in the steel sector, through the identification, assessment, and prioritization of intervention opportunities within the integrated steelmaking route. The research is applied, exploratory, and descriptive in nature, with a qualitative approach, and was structured into five methodological stages: bibliographic and documentary review; characterization of the integrated steelmaking process; development of the Environmental Aspects and Impacts Matrix (EAIM); diagnosis and prioritization of Cleaner Production opportunities using the Effort × Impact Matrix; and the proposal of conceptual implementation plans using the 5W2H methodology. The results indicate that the blast furnace, coke oven, and rolling mill stages concentrate the most significant environmental impacts, classified as significant impact scores (SIS) in the EAIM. Five priority Cleaner Production actions were identified: optimization of the sintering process and recirculation of fines; energy recovery from process gases; improvement of thermal efficiency in reheating furnaces during rolling; implementation of closed-loop water systems in continuous casting and rolling; and recycling and valorization of slags and mill scale. The conceptual implementation plans (5W2H) demonstrated how these opportunities can be translated into concrete implementation strategies, supporting decision-making and resource allocation. This study contributes to the expansion of knowledge regarding the application of Cleaner Production in the steel industry by offering a structured and replicable methodology that can be adapted to different industrial contexts. The findings demonstrate that Cleaner Production is a viable and strategic approach for the Brazilian steel industry to reconcile its economic relevance with the need to reduce environmental impacts, contributing to decarbonization targets, the circular economy, and sustainable development.
- Miguel Alves Moreira Junior
- Maria Iaponeide Fernandes Macedo
- Paula de Castro Brasil