Effect of additives on growth of ferronickel grains and metal-slag separation behavior

Na_(2)S,Na_(2)CO_(3),FeO,FeS and carbon were used to regulate the properties of slag or metal fractions,and their effects on metal growth and metal–slag separation behavior were investigated.The growth of ferronickel grains can be enhanced by adding these additives,and Na_(2)S was the most effective.Na_(2)S,Na_(2)CO_(3) and FeO mainly affected the properties of slag,while carbon and FeS affected the metal fraction.The onset temperature of metal–slag separation was 1297℃ for the sample without additive,which was decreased to 1123 and 1101℃ after adding 3.30 wt.%Na_(2)S and 4.47 wt.%Na_(2)CO_(3),respectively.The onset temperature of metal–slag separation was mainly controlled by the slag fraction.The average apparent activation energy of metal grain growth was 125.32 kJ/mol without additive,and it decreased obviously after adding different additives.Na_(2)S also had the most remarkable effect on the decrease in activation energy.

Carbothermic reduction of vanadium titanomagnetite with the assistance of sodium carbonate

The carbothermic reduction of vanadium titanomagnetite concentrate(VTC)with the assistance of Na_(2)CO_(3)was conducted in an argon atmosphere between 1073 and 1473 K.X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate the phase transformations during the reaction.By investigating the reaction between VTC and Na_(2)CO_(3),it was concluded that molten Na_(2)CO_(3)broke the structure of titanomagnetite by combining with the acidic oxides(Fe_(2)O_(3),TiO_(2),Al_(2)O_(3),and SiO_(2))to form a Na-rich melt and release FeO and MgO.Therefore,Na_(2)CO_(3)accelerated the reduction rate.In addition,adding Na_(2)CO_(3)also benefited the agglomeration of iron particles and the slag–metal separation by decreasing the viscosity of the slag.Thus,Na_(2)CO_(3)assisted carbothermic reduction is a promising method for treating VTC at low temperatures.

Numerical model of inclusion separation from liquid metal with consideration of dissolution in slag

The transport of inclusion particles through the liquid metal/molten slag interface and their dissolution in the slag are two key processes of inclusion removal.Based on the latest version of inclusion transport model that takes into account full Reynolds number range and a dissolution kinetics model,a coupled model was developed to simulate the whole process of inclusion removal,from floating in the liquid steel to crossing the interface and further to entering and dissolving in the molten slag.The interaction between the inclusion motion and dissolution was discussed.Even though the inclusion velocity is a key parameter for dissolution,the simulation results show no obvious dissolution during moving state because the process is too short and most of the inclusions dissolve during its static stay in the slag side above the interface.The rate-controlling step of inclusion removal is the transport through the steel-slag interface for the small-size inclusion and static dissolution above the interface for the large-size inclusion,respectively.

Slag/metal Separation Process of Gas-reduced Oolitic High-phosphorus Iron Ore Fines

Slag/metal separation process of the highly reduced oolitic high-phosphorus iron ore fines was investigated. Samples were prepared using the reduced ore fines （metallization rate： 88%） and powder additives of CaO and Na2CO3. Slag/metal separation behavior tests were conducted using a quenching method and the obtained metal parts were subjected to direct observation as well as microstructure examination with SEM and EDS; iron recovery and phosphorus distribution tests were conducted using a Si-Mo high temperature furnace and the obtained metal parts were examined by ICP-AES analysis and mass measurement. Thermodynamic calculation using coexistence theory of slag structure was also performed. Results show that temperature for slag/metal separation must be higher than 1823 K and a satisfying slag/metal separation of the highly reduced ore fines needs at least 4 min; phosphorus con- tent of hot metal is mainly determined by thermodynamics; temperature of 1823-1873 K and Na2CO3 mixing ratio of about 3 % are adequate for controlling phosphorus content to be less than 0.3 mass% in hot metal; temperature, time and Na2CO3 mixing ratio do not have significant effect on iron recovery, and iron recovery rate could be higher than 80% as long as a good slag/metal separation result is obtained.

Preparation of Chromium-iron Metal Powder from Chromium Slag by Reduction Roasting and Magnetic Separation

Chromium slag（CS）has become one of the most hazardous solid waste containing chromium and iron.Based on its characteristics,the technology of reduction roasting and magnetic separation was employed to treat CS.The major impurity element of CS is magnesium and it exists in magnesium ferrite phase,which is hard to recover iron in the absence of additives.During reduction roasting,additives（Al2O3and CaF2）could destroy the structure of magnesium ferrite and improve the iron grade and recovery.The final product,i.e.chromium-iron powder,contains 72.54% Fe and 13.56% Cr,with the iron recovery of 80.34% and chromium recovery of 80.70%.

Optimization of magnetic separation process for iron recovery from steel slag

To improve the efficiency of iron recovery from steel slag and reduce the wear-and-tear on facilities, a new method was proposed by adding a secondary screen sizer to the magnetic separation process according to grain size distribution of magnetic iron （M-Fe） in the slag. The final recycling efficiency was evaluated by calculating the percentage of recycled M-Fe to the maximum amount of M-Fe that could be recovered. Three types of slags, namely basic oxygen furnace slag, desul- furization slag, and iron ladle slag, were studied, and the results showed that the optimized re- covery efficieneies were 93.20%, 92. 48%, and 85.82% respectively, and the recycling efficien eies were improved by 9.58%, 7.11%, and 6.24% respectively. Furthermore, the abrasion between the mill equipment and the remaining slags was significantly reduced owing to the efficient recovery of larger M-Fe particles. In addition, the using amount of grinding balls was reduced by 0. 46 kg when every 1 t steel slag was processed.

Influences of Technological Parameters on Smelting-separation Process for Metallized Pellets of Vanadium-bearing Titanomagnetite Concentrates

The smelting-separation process for metallized pellets of vanadium-bearing titanomagnetite concentrates was studied.The influences of smelting temperature,smelting time,and the basicity of the metallized pellet on vanadium and iron recovery were investigated.The characteristics of titanium slag were analyzed using X-ray diffraction,energy dispersive spectroscopy,and mineralographic microscopic analysis.The results demonstrate that appropriate increases in smelting temperature and smelting time can improve the vanadium and iron recovery from metallized pellets and are beneficial for the slag-iron separation.Although increasing the basicity of the metallized pellet can considerably improve the vanadium and iron recovery,the TiO;grade of titanium slag was decreased.Under the optimal conditions,90.17% of vanadium and 92.98% of iron in the metallized pellet were recovered,and the TiO;grade of titanium slag was 55.01%.It was found that anosovite,augite,spinel,glassiness,and metallic iron were the main mineral phases of the titanium slag.

Niobium and phosphorus behavior during melting-separation process of pre-reduced niobium ore concentrate

The pre-reduced Bayan Obo ferroniobium（FeNb）ore concentrate block was taken as raw materials for studying the physical properties of niobium-enriched slag and changes in niobium recovery rate.In addition,the dephosphorization rate of the slag under different melting-separation conditions was investigated using the melting-separation test.The research results demonstrate that（i）the niobium recovery rate and dephosphorization rate of the slag decrease with the increase in melting-separation temperature;（ii）the niobium recovery rate of the slag initially increases and then decreases with increase in basicity and time;and（iii）the dephosphorization rate of the slag increases with the increase in basicity and time.When the test was performed under the conditions of basicity of 0.6-0.7,time of 7-10min,and temperature of 1400-1450°C,the niobium recovery rate and dephosphorization rate are over 96%and 95%,respectively.By scanning electron microscopy,it is observed that niobium mainly exists in the form of calcium and titanium silicate within the slag phase,with uneven distribution.