Characterisation of manganese furnace dust and zinc balance in production of manganese alloys

Abstract

Manganese furnace dust is made up of volatiles and raw materials fines collected from the off-gas during smelting of manganese alloys. Currently, manganese furnace dust is accumulated in large settling ponds. Major factors preventing recycling of the manganese furnace dust to the ferroalloy furnaces are handling, due to its tar content, and accumulation of zinc in the furnaces, which can cause irregularities in their operation. This paper presents characteristics of manganese furnace dust generated in ferromanganese and silicomanganese production at Tasmanian Electrometallurgical Company and analyses zinc balances in light of furnace dust recycling. If manganese furnace dust is recycled to the ferroalloy furnaces via the sinter plant, the overall zinc input will increase by 51-143% depending on charging materials. © 2005 ISIJ.