Oxidation Behavior of Silicon, Phosphorus and Vanadium in Carbon-saturated Iron Melt with Sodium Carbonate

Abstract

When Na₂CO₃ was reacted with a solid Fe-54%V alloy at 1 100°C, the following equation was derived for the oxidation reaction of vanadium with soda ash. Na₂CO₃+4/5V=Na₂O+2/5V₂O₅+C
The oxidation behavior of phosphorus, vanadium and silicon in carbon-saturated iron melt have been studied by use of soda flux (Na₂CO₃, Na₂• CO₃-Fe₂O₃) at 1 300°C. The oxidation of phosphorus and vanadium were initially retarded if a small amount of the flux was added by installments and the reversions of phosphorus and vanadium occurred after the final flux addition. In comparison with the results obtained in the addition of soda flux by a lump, the retardation of the initial oxidation is explained by the fact that the reversion rates of phosphorus and vanadium are considerably, fast. The effect of Fe₂O₃ addition to the flux was found to be significant in both the lump and installment additions. The extensive removal of vanadium was observed by the addition of Fe₂O₃ in the installments, while neither the dephosphorization reaction nor the vanadium reversion takes place. The same oxidation behavior, found in the Na₂CO₃-Fe₂O₃ flux was obtained in the CaO-CaF₂ Fe₂O₃ flux.