Research for Using Iron & Steelmaking Zinc Laden Dust to Desulphurisze Hot Metal

In order to promote recycling of zinc laden dust, desulphurizing hot metal using the dust has been researched on a laboratory scale and the possibility of developing a new desulphurization (De‐S) method has been evaluated. The thermodynamic data of the Zn‐O‐S system has been determined with an electrochemical cell. The results indicate that ZnS sublimes at a temperature between 1450 and 1460 K. Directly as a result of this phase change the driving force for desulphurization with Zn or ZnO increases with increasing temperature beyond this sublimation temperature, thus potentially making Zn based reagents useful for high temperature desulphurization reactions. Feasibility reactions were also performed to confirm that ZnO can effectively react with FeS (1473 to 1653 K) or with Fe‐Csat‐S (1473‐1673K) to remove S. There is therefore potential for the utilization of ZnO laden waste dust or granular zinc as additional or alternative reagents for desulphurization. This paper provides a theoretical basis and the feasibility for granular Zn (and/or ZnO) replacing granular Mg for desulphurizing hot metal.