Method for accelerating separation of granular metallic iron from slag

Abstract

The present invention is intended to provide a method for accelerating separation of granular metallic iron as an objective product and slag as a by-product when the granular metallic iron is produced with reduction melting of raw-material agglomerates that contain an iron-oxide containing material and a carbonous reducing agent, thereby producing metallic iron of a high iron grade in which slag is satisfactorily separated and removed. The present invention resides in a method for accelerating separation of granular metallic iron and slag, the method being employed to produce the granular metallic iron with reduction melting of raw-material agglomerates that contain an iron-oxide containing material and a carbonous reducing agent, wherein a mixed solid of the granular metallic iron produced with the reduction melting and the slag produced as a by-product are quickly cooled to accelerate separation of the granular metallic iron and the by-product slag from each other.

1 . A method for accelerating separation of granular metallic iron and slag, the method being employed to produce the granular metallic iron with reduction melting of raw-material agglomerates that contain an iron-oxide containing material and a carbonous reducing agent, wherein a mixed solid of the granular metallic iron produced with the reduction melting and the slag produced as a by-product are quickly cooled to accelerate separation of the granular metallic iron and the by-product slag from each other.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the quick cooling is performed using a coolant.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the quick cooling is performed at a cooling rate of not less than 250° C./min in at least a part of the range from a solidifying temperature of the granular metallic iron to 150° C.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the quick cooling is performed at a cooling rate of not less than 350° C./min.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein water is employed as the coolant, the quick cooling of the granular metallic iron is stopped until reaching 150° C., and moisture residing on and attached to the granular metallic iron is dried.