Desulphurisation of Hisarna hot metal: a comparisson study based on plant data

HIsarna is a smelting reduction ironmaking process that is currently in the pilot plant development phase. HIsarna produces hot metal with higher sulphur, lower phosphorus and manganese, almost no silicon and titanium and a lower temperature compared to the blast furnace. Because of that, desulphurisation of the HIsarna hot metal is one of the challenges to ensure its use for steelmaking. Plant data from different Tata Steel plants in Europe and India was used to study the effect of carbon, silicon, phosphorus, manganese, titanium, chromium and temperature on hot metal desulphurisation by magnesium lime co-injection. The analysis of the plant data implies that the composition of HIsarna hot metal will be in favour of sulphur removal. Furthermore significant correlations were found between carbon, silicon and desulphurisation efficiency, that needs further research.