Reduction of FeO in EAF steelmaking slag by blends of metallurgical coke and end-of-life polyethylene terephthalate

Abstract

The reduction of FeO containing slag by blends of metallurgical coke and end-of-life polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has been investigated through experiments conducted in a laboratory scale horizontal tube furnace. Composite pellets of EAF slag (47·1%FeO) with coke, PET and blends of coke/PET (in four different proportions) were rapidly heated at 1550°C under high purity argon gas and the off gas was continuously analysed for CH₄, CO and CO₂ using an online infrared gas analyser (IR). The extent of reduction after ten minutes, level of carburisation and desulphurisation were determined for each carbonaceous reductant. The results show significant improvement in extent of reduction, level of carburisation and desulphurisation of the reduced metal when coke is blended with PET.

Keywords:

• FeO reduction
• Metallurgical coke
• Polyethylene terephthalate
• Carburisation
• Desulphurisation

Acknowledgement

The corresponding author is grateful to the Ghana Government through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) for financial support.