Abstract
The basic knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of the electric arc furnace (EAF) and secondary dust (SD) obtained by the characterisation provides important information on the potential problems that could be encountered during the processing of such materials. EAF dust consists mainly of very fine spherical particles. The most common phases in the EAF dust are solid solution of iron spinels generally enclosed into a matrix of calcium–iron silicate glass. Leaching tests show that as the Zn/Fe ratio increases, there is an increase in the zinc extraction, whereas the iron extraction decreases as the Zn/Fe ratio increases. It was possible to produce a SD containing 55.8% zinc by means of charging EAF primary dust–coal composite pellets into an induction furnace. SD consists of very fine particles presenting a mean particle size of 0.26μm. In addition, SD contains significant levels of iron, chloride and fluoride. The iron content in the SD was identified as being iron droplets ejected from the bath caused by high intensity gas generation during the smelting of the EAF primary dust–coal composite pellets.
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