Distribution analysis on steel alloying elements in the end of life vehicle scrap recycling process

Abstract

Over the last decade, regulations regarding end-of-life vehicle (ELV) recycling have been introduced in many countries, leading to an increased recycling rate of ELVs. However, steel scrap from ELVs is recycled as a secondary iron source in the steelmaking process with rare consideration of alloying elements loss. Consequently, dissipation to slag and contamination in metals with alloying elements during the steel recycling process are likely to occur, but very few open data about destination of alloying elements which is available for stakeholders of ELV recycling. The purpose of this study is to obtain information about the amounts of alloying elements associated with ELV scrap and its allocation ratio between metal and slag phases in an electric arc furnace (EAF) steel making process. Our results indicate that, over half a kilogram of chromium and manganese are contained in a unit of ELV. 10% of chromium and 20-40% of manganese are transferred to slag during the dissolution process, and more alloying elements are expected to be lost depend on the condition of oxidation pressure.