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In-plant recycling of stainless and other specialty steelmaking wastes.

Higley LW Jr.; Crosby RL; Neumeier LA

Rolla, MO: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, RI 8724, 1982 Nov; :1-16

10006409

It is estimated that well over 20 million lb of chromium and 8 million lb of nickel, plus other metal values, are diverted annually to furnace dusts, mill scale, and contaminated swarfs in the domestic stainless and other specialty steelmaking industry. Little inroad has been made toward the in-plant recycling of these wastes to reclaim the metal values. The Bureau of Mines has devised a process for recovering about 90 pct of the chromium and molybdenum and well over 90 pct of the nickel and iron from stainless steelmaking furnace dusts, swarf, and mill scale. Other metals such as manganese are also recovered. Initial laboratory results were confirmed and expanded to include a wide variation of stainless steelmaking waste mixtures. Later experiments have included specialty steelmaking wastes other than from stainless steelmaking. Significantly, the ease of technology transfer has been demonstrated by a number of industrial-sized (19-ton) commercial electric furnace heats, in which the pelletized wastes represented some 10 to 20 pct of the furnace charge, replacing part of the normal scrap charge. Results of these successful large-scale trials are presented. Some information is also presented on incorporation into the pellets of chromium-bearing particulate wastes originating from other than steelmaking production. Cost evaluation indicates the process is economically attractive.

Author Keywords: Industrial wastes; Metal recycling; Smelting; Stainless steels; Steel making; Steels

19821101

IH; Report of Investigations

1983

PB83-157701

A03

RI-8724

RORC

Rolla, MO: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, RI 8724

MO