Improved casting powders and improved casting slags enable production of steels having high aluminum contents of greater than or equal to 1% by weight and, in some cases, high manganese content of greater than or equal to 15% by weight. In some examples, such steels may also or alternatively include greater than or equal to 0.2% by weight titanium. The casting slag may result from a casting powder that comprises CaO and Al.sub.2O.sub.3 components essentially in the form of prefused calcium aluminate. Methods for casting steel, including methods for continuously casting steel, are also disclosed based on the use of the disclosed casting powders or casting slags.

The invention relates to fluxing agents for the agglomeration process based on slag from the secondary metallurgy, the use of these fluxing agents in the process of agglomeration in the manufacture of the agglomerate designed for the use as a metallic charge in blast furnaces and a process of production of fluxing agents based on slag from the secondary metallurgy or based on a mixture of slag from the secondary metallurgy with other materials.

The invention relates to fluxing agents for the agglomeration process based on slag from the secondary metallurgy, the use of these fluxing agents in the process of agglomeration in the manufacture of the agglomerate designed for the use as a metallic charge in blast furnaces and a process of production of fluxing agents based on slag from the secondary metallurgy or based on a mixture of slag from the secondary metallurgy with other materials.

A method and system for recovering a high yield of low carbon ferroalloy, e.g., low carbon ferrochrome, from chromite and low carbon ferrochrome produced by the method. A stoichiometric mixture of feed materials including scrap aluminum granules, lime, silica sand, and chromite ore are provided into a plasma arc furnace. The scrap aluminum granules are produced from used aluminum beverage containers. The feed materials are heated, whereupon the aluminum in the aluminum granules produces an exothermic reaction reducing the chromium oxide and iron oxide in the chromite to produce molten low carbon ferrochrome with molten slag floating thereon. The molten low carbon ferrochrome is extracted, solidified and granulated into granules of low carbon ferrochrome. The molten slag is extracted, solidified and granulated into granules of slag.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for eluting calcium from steel slag such that more calcium can be eluted into an aqueous solution containing carbon dioxide from the steel slag. The present invention comprises carrying out, in the following order, a step of subjecting a calcium compound contained in the steel slag to hydration and a step of bringing the steel slag subjected to the hydration into contact with the aqueous solution containing carbon dioxide. Furthermore, in the present invention, the aqueous solution containing carbon dioxide is brought into contact with the steel slag while the steel slag is being pulverized or the surface of the steel slag is being ground. As a result of these methods, more calcium can be easily eluted into the aqueous solution containing carbon dioxide from the steel slag.

A method for recovering metal values from a molten slag composition includes atomizing the slag with an oxygen-containing gas in a gas atomization apparatus, to produce solid slag granules. Oxygen in the atomizing gas converts metals to magnetic metal compounds, thereby magnetizing the metal-containing slag granules. These metal-containing slag granules are then magnetically separated. Larger amounts of metals may be removed by passing the molten slag through a pre-settling pan with an adjustable base, and/or discontinuing atomization where the metal content of the slag exceeds a predetermined amount. Solid slag granules produced by atomization may be charged to a recovery unit for recovery of one or more metal by-products. An apparatus for recovering metal values from molten slag includes a gas atomization apparatus, a flow control device for controlling the flow of atomizing gas, a control system, and one or more sensors to detect metal values in the slag.

A method for recovering metal values from a molten slag composition includes atomizing the slag with an oxygen-containing gas in a gas atomization apparatus, to produce solid slag granules. Oxygen in the atomizing gas converts metals to magnetic metal compounds, thereby magnetizing the metal-containing slag granules. These metal-containing slag granules are then magnetically separated. Larger amounts of metals may be removed by passing the molten slag through a pre-settling pan with an adjustable base, and/or discontinuing atomization where the metal content of the slag exceeds a predetermined amount. Solid slag granules produced by atomization may be charged to a recovery unit for recovery of one or more metal by-products. An apparatus for recovering metal values from molten slag includes a gas atomization apparatus, a flow control device for controlling the flow of atomizing gas, a control system, and one or more sensors to detect metal values in the slag.

A method for treating desulfurization slag involves conveying desulfurization slag from pig iron desulfurization to a unit where the desulfurization slag is melted at a temperature of at least 1,400 C. In the unit, a thorough mixing is achieved. The treatment takes place in the unit under oxidizing conditions. Sulfur dioxide is generated and collected from the roasting gas and supplied for further utilization.

A method for treating desulfurization slag involves conveying desulfurization slag from pig iron desulfurization to a unit where the desulfurization slag is melted at a temperature of at least 1,400 C. In the unit, a thorough mixing is achieved. The treatment takes place in the unit under oxidizing conditions. Sulfur dioxide is generated and collected from the roasting gas and supplied for further utilization.

A process for preparing solid slag granules from a molten slag composition comprises: (a) providing the molten slag composition; (b) converting the molten slag composition into the solid slag granules in a dispersion apparatus; and (c) sorting the solid slag granules by shape in a separator to produce a plurality of fractions having different sphericities. Granular slag products comprise one or more fractions of solid slag granules produced by the process, and include proppants, roofing granules, catalyst supports, which may be porous or non-porous, and coated or uncoated.