Current state of steelmaking slag processing

In the present work, the properties and composition of steelmaking slag are assessed by analysing existing processing methods, including desulfurisation and dephosphorisation. The atomic absorption and optical emission methods were used to study the chemical composition of slag samples, and metallographic analysis was used to study their microstructure. Major approaches to processing slags applied in Russia and abroad were studied. It was shown that steelmaking slags are neutralised and treated by various methods and subsequently applied in construction and road industries, while the obtained phosphorus-containing products are used in agriculture instead of superphosphate. In addition, these products reduce lime consumption and improve slag formation in steelmaking. The key factor hampering reusing electric steelmaking and converter slags for metal refining is shown to be the presence of phosphorus. The chemical composition of slag samples from the electric steelmaking production was analysed; the iron content amounted to 33.2 wt%, calcium – 19.15 wt%, phosphorus – 0.33 wt% and silicon – 5.39 wt%. Iron is present in the oxidised form (FeO, Fe2O3 and Fe3O4), silicon and calcium in the form of dicalcium silicate (2CaO ∙ SiO2 ), phosphorus in the form of calcium silicophosphate having complex composition – Ca2(SiO4)6(Ca3(PO4)2. Phosphorus is fed to the melting units with gangue minerals, agglomerate, ore and fluxes. When the slags are reused, phosphorus returns to the metal, thus contaminating the final product. Possible methods for extracting phosphorus from steelmaking slags include magnetic and electrostatic separation, gravity and flotation concentration, as well as hydrometallurgical processing.

Leaching of Phosphorus from Quenched Steelmaking Slags with Different Composition

Separating P2O5 from steelmaking slag is the key to achieving optimum resource utilization of slag. If the P-concentrating 2CaO∙SiO2–3CaO∙P2O5 solid solution was effectively separated, it can be a potential phosphate resource and the remaining slag rich in Fe2O3 and CaO can be reutilized as a flux in steelmaking process. In this study, a low-cost method of selective leaching was adopted, and hydrochloric acid was selected as leaching agent. The dissolution behavior of quenched steelmaking slags with different composition in the acidic solution was investigated and the dissolution mechanism was clarified. It was found that the P dissolution ratio from each slag was higher than those of other elements, achieving an effective separation of P and Fe. The dissolution ratios of P, Ca, and Si decreased as the P2O5 content in slag increased. A higher Fe2O3 content in slag led to a lower P dissolution ratio. Increasing slag basicity facilitated the dissolution of P from slag. The residue mainly composed of matrix phase and the P2O5 content decreased significantly through selective leaching. The P dissolution ratio from slag was primarily determined by the P distribution ratio in the 2CaO∙SiO2–3CaO∙P2O5 solid solution and the precipitation of ferric phosphate in the leachate. The P-concentrating solid solution was effectively separated from quenched steelmaking slag, even though hydrochloric acid was used as leaching agent.

Fuel-melting aggregate “MAGMA-1” for processing wastes of electric steelmaking

Toughening of ecological requirements to metallurgical production and economic factors, stipulated by competitiveness at the metal products market, increased actuality of utilization of slags, sludges and dust, obtained in steelmaking. It was shown, that from the economic point of view, processing of slags obtained at operation of modern ultra-powerful electric arc furnaces (EAF), is the item of highest interest. At present, their processing is restricted often by maximum possible recovery of metallic inclusions. At that the problem of utilization slag remains, dust and sludges remains unsolved. A pyrometallurgical method of electric steelmaking slags processing in EAF was considered. The process involves application of liquid phase reducing of metal oxides and correction of slag composition aimed at obtaining cast slag marketable products and clinker for cement industry. Data of test heats for slags utilization at the 5-ton EAF presented. The proposed technology enables to make industrial scale processing of slags with obtaining cast iron and melted clinker. Taking into consideration that EAF coefficient of efficiency, accounting fuel consumption for electrical energy obtaining is not high and is 23–24%, it was proposed to do slags processing in fuel-melting aggregates, in which the efficiency of primary energy utilization is higher (efficiency coefficient is 25–40%). The firm OJSC NTP “Akont” developed a technical project of a fuel-melting aggregate “MAGMA-1” for processing electric steelmaking slags. Its basic technical data and performance indices presented. It was shown that additional decrease of fuel consumption can be provided at utilization of liquid slag tapped out of EAF in a course of a heat, as well as at charge heating in a tubular rotating heater by waste gases.