Electric arc furnace dust-coal composite pellet effects of pellet size, dust composition, and additives on swelling and zinc removal

Electric arc furnace (EAF) dust-coal composite pellets were heated from room temperature to 1423 and 1468 K under flowing argon by means of two heating patterns (non-isothermal tests). Apparent volume variation, compressive strength after heating, and zinc removal efficiency were evaluated, the last as a function of the additives used in the present work. A decrease of pellet size (from 14 to 7 mm in diameter) as well as the, presence of Portland cement contributed towards avoiding abnormal swelling caused by growth of iron whiskers, and, as a consequence, there was no significant decrease of compressive strength at similar to1323 K. At 1397 K, highest zinc removal was obtained for pellets with 12 wt-%KCl, and reasons for this result are proposed.