THERMOANALYTICAL STUDY OF EAF DUST AND ITS VITRIFICATION PRODUCT

Thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to determine the thermal behaviour of the electric are furnace dust from stainless steel and carbon steel op erations. The dust is classified as environmentally hazardous waste in most regions of North America and Europe because of its relatively hi gh levels of lead, cadmium and chromium. The results indicated that, t hermally, the two types of dust are still somewhat active and that the re are apparent differences in their thermal behaviour. A thermal proc ess for the stabilization of the dust by vitrifying with clay has been developed at the Environment Laboratory of the Canada Centre for Mine ral and Energy Technology in Canada. The vitrification product (clinke rs) of both types of dust were also examined and were found to be ther mally stable at least up to 1000 degrees C.