Process for the removal of metal or impurities from electric arc furnace dust

Abstract

A method for preparing Electric Arc Furnace dust (EAFD) for metal recovery, comprising: a) mixing the EAFD comprising zinc oxide or lead oxide, or a mixture of both, with a liquid and a binder to produce an EAFD mixture; b) producing a shaped EAFD pellet; and c) drying the shaped EAFD pellet is disclosed. A method for recovering zinc from Electric Arc Furnace dust (EAFD), comprising: a) heating the EAFD comprising at least one metal comprising zinc in an inert gas atmosphere at a temperature ranging from 700° C. to 1100° C.; and b) evaporating the at least one metal comprising zinc from the EAFD and collecting the at least one metal is also disclosed. A method for recovering an impurity from Electric Arc Furnace dust (EAFD), comprising: a) heating the EAFD comprising an impurity in an inert gas atmosphere at a temperature ranging from 700° C. to 1100° C.; and b) evaporating the impurity from the EAFD and collecting the impurity is also disclosed. A method for recovering iron oxide from Electric Arc Furnace dust (EAFD), comprising: a) heating the EAFD comprising iron oxide and at least one metal in an inert gas atmosphere at a temperature ranging from 700° C. to 1100° C.; and b) separating the iron oxide by evaporating the at least one metal from the EAFD and leaving the iron oxide as a residue is also disclosed.

1 . A method for preparing Electric Arc Furnace dust (EAFD) for metal recovery, comprising:
 a) mixing the EAFD comprising zinc oxide or lead oxide, or a mixture of both, with a liquid and a binder to produce an EAFD mixture;   b) producing a shaped EAFD pellet; and   c) drying the shaped EAFD pellet.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide is zinc oxide. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide is lead oxide. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is water. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is present in an amount from about 6.0 wt % to 12.0 wt %, based on the total weight of the EAFD mixture. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the binder is present in an amount from about 0.01 wt % to about 5.0 wt %, based on the total weight of the EAFD mixture. 
     
     
         10 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the average pellet size is from about 7.0 to 18 mm. 
     
     
         17 . A method for recovering zinc from Electric Arc Furnace dust (EAFD), comprising:
 a) heating the EAFD comprising at least one metal comprising zinc in an inert gas atmosphere at a temperature ranging from 700° C. to 1100° C.; and   b) evaporating the at least one metal comprising zinc from the EAFD and collecting the at least one metal.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one metal is zinc. 
     
     
         19 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the method comprises reoxidizing the zinc to form zinc oxide and collecting the zinc oxide. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method for recovering an impurity from Electric Arc Furnace dust (EAFD), comprising:
 a) heating the EAFD comprising an impurity in an inert gas atmosphere at a temperature ranging from 700° C. to 1100° C.; and   b) evaporating the impurity from the EAFD and collecting the impurity.   
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein EAFD is in the form of a pellet. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the impurity comprises lead, chlorine, or sodium, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         29 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the method comprises reoxidizing the lead to form lead oxide and collecting the lead oxide. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the average pellet size is from about 7.0 to 18 mm. 
     
     
         39 - 45 . (canceled)