No abstract

In the operation of a typical mini-mill, about 1 to 2% of each charge to the electric furnace is converted to dust, which is collected as particulate matter in the baghouse system. The dust is considered hazardous because it contains lead and cadmium. However, it also contains large, recoverable quantities of zinc and iron. To make the dust environmentally acceptable and to recover the valuable content, pyrometallurgical processing was studied on a laboratory scale. The experimental results show that successful removal of zinc, lead and cadmium and considerable upgrading of iron from the electric furnace dust have been accomplished, and that a nonhazardous inert slag have been formed by pyrometallurgical processing at two temperatures.