Phosphorus Partition and Phosphate Capacity of Basic Oxygen Steelmaking Slags

Phosphorus generally has a negative effect on the mechanical properties of steel.1–3) Phosphorous levels in iron ore are expected to increase4,5) and may cause difficulties in achieving steel specification using current processing methods and conditions. Against this background of increasing phosphorous in the ore, an improved understanding of steel dephosphorisation fundamentals will underpin any adjustments steelmakers need to make to the steelmaking process to continue to meet steel specification. Phosphorus removal in basic oxygen steelmaking (BOS) is typically described by the ionic reaction given in Eq. (1). It may also be represented by the simple molecular reaction, given in Eq. (2),