OXIDATION BEHAVIOR OF SILICON, PHOSPHORUS AND VANADIUM IN CARBON-SATURATED IRON MELT WITH SODIUM CARBONATE.

In a new steelmaking process proposed in Japan, the soda ash refining process, vanadium is recovered from a treated soda ash slag together with sodium and phosphorus. To improve vanadium recovery oxidation has been studied with a soda flux (Na//2CO//3, Na//2CO//3-Fe//2O//3) at 1300 degree C. The oxidation of phosphorus and vanadium was initially retarded if a small amount of the flux was added by installments, and reversions occurred after the final addition. In comparison with addition by a lump, retardation is explained by fast reversion rates. Extensive removal of vanadium was observed by the addition of Fe//2O//3 in installments and no dephosphorization reaction or vanadium reversion took place. The same oxidation behavior found in the Na//2CO//3-FE//2O//3 flux was obtained in the CaO-CaF//2-FE//2O//3 flux.