Almalyk State Technical Institute, Almalyk, Uzbekistan

A. U. Samadov, Dr. Eng., Prof., Dept. of Metallurgy, e-mail: alishersamadov@yandex.ru
Sh. T. Khojiev, Dr. Eng., Associate Prof., Dept. of Metallurgy, e-mail: hojiyevshohruh@yandex.ru
B. A. Jalolov, Doctoral Cand., Dept. of Metallurgy, e-mail: jalolovbaxtiyorjon319@gmail.com
R. E. Toshkodirova, Dr. Eng., Associate Prof., Dept. of Metallurgy, e-mail: zumrad291014@mail.ru
N. M. Muzafarova, Associate Prof., Dept. of Metallurgy, e-mail: nafisamuzafarova1521@gmail.com

In recent years, with the growth of steel production at ferrous metallurgy enterprises, the amount of technogenic waste has increased significantly. Among these wastes, particular attention is drawn to electric arc furnace dust, which is classified as an environmentally hazardous industrial by-product. However, its chemical composition is characterized by a high content of valuable metal oxides such as zinc, iron, manganese, and lead, which opens up prospects for utilizing this material as a secondary raw resource. In the present study, the thermodynamic possibilities of processing dust samples obtained from the DSP100-UMZ electric arc furnace at JSC “Uzmetkombinat” were investigated in a coal–steam atmosphere under high-temperature reduction conditions. Chemical and mineralogical analyses revealed that zinc and iron dominate its composition, occurring mainly in the form of franklinite (ZnFe₂O₄), zincite (ZnO), and hematite (Fe₂O₃). According to calculations performed in the temperature range of 800–1200 °C using the Gibbs free energy minimization method, it was established that zinc and lead oxides are reduced and volatilized into the gas phase, while iron is reduced to the metallic state and concentrated in the clinker. Manganese oxides undergo only partial reduction, remaining mainly in the form of MnO. The analysis of equilibrium constants confirmed that these reactions are thermodynamically favorable at temperatures above 900 °C. Taking into account the volatility of metals, the energy efficiency, and the kinetic features of the process, the optimal temperature range for processing was determined to be 975–1050 °C. The obtained results can serve as a scientific basis for the development and implementation of efficient industrial technologies for electric arc furnace dust recycling, which will reduce environmental impact while simultaneously enabling the involvement of secondary resources in metallurgical production.

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