• Resources Recycling
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.47-61
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• 2024

As a recycling technology for recovering zinc contained in large amounts in electric arc furnace dust (EAFD), the most commercialized technology in the world is the Wealz Kiln Process. The Wealz Kiln Process is a process in which components such as Zn and Pb in EAFD are reduced/volatile (endothermic reaction) in high-temperature Kiln and then re-oxidized (exothermic reaction) in the gas phase and recovered in the form of Crude zinc oxide (60wt%Zn) in the Bag Filter installed at the rear end of Kiln. In this study, an experimental Wealz kiln was produced to investigate the optimal process variable value for practical application to the recycling process of large-scale kiln on a commercial scale. Additionally, Pellets containing EAFD, reducing agents, and limestone were continuously loaded into Kiln, and the amount of input, heating temperature, and residence time were examined to obtain the optimal crude zinc oxide recovery rate. In addition, the optimal manufacturing conditions of Pellets (drum tilt angle, moisture addition, mixing time, etc.) were also investigated. In addition, referring to the SiO₂-CaO-FeO ternary system diagram, the formation behavior of a low melting point compound, a reaction product inside Kiln according to the change in the basicity of Pellet, and the reactivity (adhesion) with the castable constructed on the inner wall of Kiln were investigated. In addition, in order to quantitatively investigate the possibility of using anthracite as a substitute for Coke, a reducing agent, changes in the temperature distribution inside Kiln, where oxidation/reduction reactions occur due to an increase in the amount of anthracite, the quality of Crude zinc oxide, and the behavior of tar in anthracite were also investigated.