Process Technology of the Direct Separation and Recovery of Iron and Zinc Metals Contained in High Temperature EAF Exhaust Gas

The innovatory process, that is the direct separation and recovery of the iron and zinc metals contained in the high temperature exhaust gas generated from the electric arc furnace fer the inn scrap melting and/or the dust treatment, has been proposed. This proposed process consists of the moving coke bed filter that is directly connected to the electric furnace, and the following heavy metal condenser. The exhaust gas passes through the filter and the condenser right after exhausting from the electric furnace. The moving coke bed filter is being controlled at about 1000℃ and collects iron and slag components contained in the high temperature exhaust gas. Heavy metals such as zinc and lead pass through the filter as vapor. Based on the thermodynamic considerations, the iron oxide and the zinc oxide are reduced in the filter. The solution loss reaction rate is comparatively low at about 1000℃ in the coke bed filter by the analysis using the mathematical simulation model. The heavy metal condenser is installed in the position after the coke bed filter, and rapidly cools the gas from about 1000℃ to 450℃ by a full of the cooling medium like the solid ceramic ball in addition to the cooling from the wall. The zinc and lead vapor condense and separate f개m the gas in a liquid state. The investigation of the characteristics of the exhaust gas of the commercial electric arc furnace, the fundamental experiments of the laboratory scale and the bench scale ensured the formation of this proposed process. A small-scale pilot plant examination is carrying out at present to confirm the formation of the process. It is certain that the dust generation of the electric arc furnace is extremely decreased, and it can save the energy consumption of usual dust treatment processes by the realization of this process.