RETENTION, RECOVERY AND RECYCLING OF METAL VALUES FROM HIGH ALLOYED STEEL SLAGS

The work was carried out in four parallel directions. The thermodynamic activities of oxides of Cr in steel slags were determined by slag-gas equilibration technique. The ratio of Cr(2+)/Cr(3+) in CaO-MgO(-FeO)-AlO(3)-SiO(2)-CrO(x)system slags was measured by X-ray absorption near edge spectra (XANES). High-temperature mass spectrometry method was also used to obtain the distribution of chromium oxides. A mathematical correlation was established for estimating the ratio of Cr(2+)/Cr(3+) as a function of temperature, partial pressure of oxygen and slag basicity. Laboratory investigations of the decarburization of high alloy steels under controlled oxygen potentials have been carried out to retain Cr in the steel phase. A mathematical model has been developed for the decarburization process with controlled oxygen partial pressure. Experimental and theoretical investigations have been carried out in optimizing the Mo-additions to steel in the EAF practice in Uddeholm Tooling AB. Substantial saving of Mo as well as less emissions of Mo-bearing dust are indicated in the study. A salt extraction process was developed to extract the metal values from steel slags. Successful extractions, followed by electrolysis indicate that this could be a viable route towards recovery of metals from metallurgical slags.