Possibility of Selective Oxidation of Vanadium from Iron and Phosphorus in Fe‐V‐P Melt

Experiments on a vanadium recovery method from vanadium containing BOF‐slag using both a Tamman furnace (3 kg scale) and an induction furnace (150 kg scale) were conducted. The vanadium was extracted into the slag phase by bubbling oxidation gas into a metal bath consisting mainly of V (1–10 mass%), Si (less than 1 mass%) and P (about 1 mass%). The first experiments revealed that the slag formed during oxidation reaction had considerably high phosphate capacity. High phosphorus content would rule out the possibility of using the slag as a raw material for the production of ferrovanadium of high quality. In order to reduce the P‐content in the slag, addition of slag former to reduce phosphate capacity was necessary. A suitable slag system (having the initial composition 40 mass% Al₂O₃ ‐ 25 mass% CaO ‐ 35 mass% SiO₂) and a suitable atmosphere, by using CO₂, that enhanced the oxidation of vanadium, but limit the oxidation of iron and phosphorus was found. However, more efforts should be put forward, e.g. study of the phase diagram, the viscosity of the slag and even oxide activities to gain more insight into the slag formed by selective oxidation.