Analysing the HIsmelt process for smelting vanadium–titanium magnetite

ABSTRACT

In response to the problem of rich vanadium–titanium magnetite (VTM) resources in China contrasting with low blast furnace utilization, a HIsmelt process for smelting VTM is proposed. The influence of the process parameters on smelting reduction is analysed under laboratory conditions by simulating smelting reduction. The results show that extending the reaction time reduces the FeO content in the slag by 15.34 wt-%, increasing the reaction temperature reduces the FeO content in the slag by 26.38 wt-%, and increasing the basicity reduces the FeO content in the slag by 11.26 wt-%. The control temperature for smelting VTM using the HIsmelt process is 1425°C, with a reduction time of 20–30 min, which is conducive to the transfer of vanadium to the molten iron and the enrichment of titanium in the slag. To ensure vanadium and titanium are efficiently utilized, a basicity control of 0.8 is appropriate.

KEYWORDS:

• HIsmelt process
• smelting reduction
• vanadium–titanium magnetite
• titanium enrichment

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the High-end Iron and Steel Metallurgy Joint Fund Project of Hebei Provincial Natural Science Foundation [grant number E2020209208], Chengde Science and Technology Plan Project [grant number 202205B060] and Tangshan Science and Technology Bureau [grant number 22130203H].