About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Fundamentals of Sustainable Metallurgy and Processing of Materials
|
| Presentation Title |
Effects of Alkali Metals on the Blast Furnace Process: Laboratory-Scale Fusion-Reduction Tests |
| Author(s) |
Ivan Mauricio Daza Prada, Cesar Yuji Narita, André Luiz Nunis da Silva, Vinícius de Morais Oliveira, Fabricio Parreira Vilela, Aline de Carvalho Elias, Aldair Uriel Alvarez Santander , Fabio Rocha Silva, Augusto Pereira de Sá, Marcus Emrich Botelho |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Ivan Mauricio Daza Prada |
| Abstract Scope |
The accumulation of alkali metals, especially potassium (K) and sodium (Na), in the blast furnace process can lead to severe operational issues, including scaffold formation, refractory damage, and process instability. This study investigates the behavior and effects of K and Na in a simulated blast furnace environment through laboratory-scale fusion-reduction experiments using iron ore as the base material. Controlled additions of alkali-bearing compounds are introduced in excess to replicate worst-case conditions and evaluate their impact on the reduction process and phase formation. After each test, the resulting slag, metal, and off-gases are collected and characterized through chemical, structural, and microstructural analyses. The aim is to identify critical transformations and interactions induced by elevated alkali levels and to better understand their thermochemical roles in the system. The findings will contribute to the development of alkali-tolerant process routes and feed strategies for improved blast furnace performance. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Pyrometallurgy, Extraction and Processing, Iron and Steel |