Current state of steelmaking slag processing

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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.