Blast Furnace Sludge
Blast Furnace Sludge is a co-products resulting from the process of transforming sinter into hot metal in Blast Furnaces. It is originated in the water treatment system used for cleaning the gases generated in Blast Furnaces and is comprised of iron oxide, coke fines and other raw materials. Therefore, it is a material with a varied chemical composition.
Chemical Composition (Reference)
| Si O2 | 4.92% |
| Ca O | 3.76% |
| Al2 O3 | 1.82% |
| Mg O | 0.64% |
| Mn O | 0.32% |
| Fe2 O3 | 41.76% |
| C | 37.20% |
| Zn | 0.84% |
| FeM | 1.74% |
| S | 0.61% |
Physical Characteristics (Reference)
-
Granulometry (%):
0.150mm = 3.30
0.075 mm = 11.70
0.045 mm = 15.70
0,038 mm = 10,40
< 0.038mm = 59.50 -
Humidity (%):
Approximately 25%.
Monthly Generation (Reference)
4.500 t of BF Sludge
Applications of the BF Sludge
Ceramics Industry:
It is a traditional consumer of BF Sludge by utilizing this material mixed in the clay used for making bricks and roofing tiles, in a proportion of up to 10% of the mixture.
Due to its high carbon content (around 40% - reference value), this material provides shorter campaign time (burning or firing) for the lot of bricks or roofing tiles, thus, contributing for saving fuel. The time for burning or firing is reduced from 80 hours to approximately 48 hours (reference - information provided by ceramics specialists).
The presence of carbon also contributed to the temperature evenness in the furnaces (thermal equilibrium). This avoids a quicker burning or firing of part of the lot or partial loss of some part that was not properly burned due to temperature differences in the furnace. Therefore, this is beneficial to the productivity.
Information from ceramics companies utilizing the BF Sludge also show an increased gain in the resistance of the pieces due to the iron ore content in the sludge (40% of iron oxide - reference value).
Cement Industry:
The greatest advantage of using BF Sludge in cement factories, is due to the fact that its chemical composition ranges around 40% of iron oxide (reference), thus being able to replace the iron ore that is used to correct the deficiency of Fe2O3 (iron oxide) in the clay used in the unbaked - mixture of crushed lime and clay that enters the revolving furnace for the production of clinker. These factories utilize the sludge by mixing it in the lime pile or together with the solid fuel in the injector tip.
Contact:
Eng. Pedro Augusto de Carvalho FilhoSales Executive
Tel: (+55 27) 3348-1084 
E-mail: pedro.carvalho@arcelormittal.com
ArcelorMittal Tubarão
Av. Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes, 930
Jardim Limoeiro, Serra,
Espírito Santo
Zip Code 29163-970. PCE 41
Siderúrgica produtora de placas de aço, aços planos, bobinas e laminados a quente.
