VANADIUM DISTRIBUTION IN MELTS INTERMEDIATE TO FERROALLOY PRODUCTION FROM VANADIFEROUS SLAG

Processing of vanadiferous slags through the pyrometallurgical process route appears to offer advantages both in terms of ferroalloy production and in the potential for efficient vanadium recovery from hot metal. In order to investigate the effect of slag composition on the phase distribution of vanadium, a series of laboratory smelting experiments was carried out. The effect of basicity adjustments on the slag/metal distribution of iron, vanadium, and manganese was investigated using carbon and FeSi as a reductant. A simulation of the final stage of slag reduction was also carried out to determine the efficiency of vanadium recovery during metallothermic smelting using aluminum and FeSi.