EFFECT OF FEO IN THE SLAG AND SILICON IN THE METAL ON THE DESULFURIZATION OF HOT METAL

Work has been conducted to investigate the effects of FeO in the slag and silicon in the metal on hot metal desulfurization. Laboratory expe rimental results show that FeO decreases and silicon increases the rat e of desulfurization. Silicon in the metal is consumed by the reductio n of FeO and also by the desulfurization reaction. A mathematical kine tic model was developed to describe both the effects of silicon and Fe O on desulfurization for the laboratory scale. The model predicts the sulfur and silicon content in the metal and the FeO and sulfur content in the slag as a function of time. It is based on few-component simul taneous mass transfer: sulfur and silicon in the metal and FeO and sul fur in the slag. Experimental results, the development of the kinetic model, and a comparison of the model and experimental results are pres ented.