Zinc Ferrite Decomposition by Sodium Carbonate and Calcium Oxide at Roasting of Steelmaking Dust

When re-melting scrap in electric arc furnaces (EAF), dust is formed. This dust is a rich zinc-containing raw material. The composition of the EAF-dust from JSC “Pervouralsk New Pipe Plant” was investigated. Dust contains 18 wt.% of zinc, more than 1/3 of zinc is a part of the slightly soluble in acids and alkalis of zinc ferrite ZnFe 2 O 4 . The aim of the work is to study the effect of roasting temperatures of 700, 850 and 1000 °C and the effect of CaO and Na 2 CO 3 additives on the decomposition of zinc ferrite. Thermodynamic analysis of chemical transformations in dust during roasting showed that the additions of CaO and Na 2 CO 3 provide destruction of zinc ferrite and promote the transfer of zinc into the acid-soluble form of ZnO. The effect of the roasting temperature, the duration of roasting and the amount of calcium oxide and sodium carbonate additions on the degree of zinc transition into acid-soluble form was studied experimentally. The best results were obtained at 1000 oС. The increase in the roasting time in the interval from 1 to 3 hours promotes an increase in the concentration of acid-soluble zinc in the cinder. The combined additions of 36 wt.% of Na 2 CO 3 and 19 wt.% of CaO above the dust mass are optimal. The proportion of acid-soluble zinc in the cinder increased to 97–99 %, as a result of roasting under optimal conditions.