Resources Recycling ISSN:2765-3439(Print) 2765-3447(Online) 자원리싸이클링

In the steelmaking process using an electric arc furnace (EAF), light-burnt dolomite, which is a flux containing MgO, is used to protect refractory materials and improve desulfurization ability. Furthermore, a recarburizing agent is added to reduce energy consumption via slag foaming and to induce the deoxidation effect. Herein, a waste MgO-C based refractory material was used to achieve the aforementioned effects economically. The waste MgO-C refractory materials contain a significant amount of MgO and graphite components; however, most of these materials are currently discarded instead of being recycled. The mass recycling of waste MgO-C refractory materials would be achievable if their applicability as a flux for steelmaking is proven. Therefore, experiments were performed using a target composition range similar to the commercial EAF slag composition. A pre-melted base slag was prepared by mixing SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and FeO in an alumina crucible and heating at 1450°C for 1 h or more. Subsequently, a mixed flux #2 (a mixture of light-burnt dolomite, waste MgO-C based refractory material, and limestone) was added to the prepared pre-melted base slag and a melting reaction test was performed. Injecting the pre-melted base slag with the flux facilitates the formation of the target EAF slag. These results were compared with that of mixed flux #1 (a mixture of light-burnt dolomite and limestone), which is a conventional steelmaking flux, and the possibility of replacement was evaluated. To obtain a reliable evaluation, characterization techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry were used, and slag foam height, slag basicity, and Fe recovery were calculated.