Characterization of steel slag by SEM-EDS, XRD, and INAA

Diogo Teixeira Moreira; Maria Ângela de Barros Correia Menezes; Adriana de Souza Medeiros Batista

doi:10.15392/bjrs.v9i1A.1491

Authors

Diogo Teixeira Moreira Departamento de Engenharia Nuclear, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.
Maria Ângela de Barros Correia Menezes Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear (CDTN) - Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear (CNEN).
Adriana de Souza Medeiros Batista Departamento de Anatomia e Imagem, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6834-7551

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15392/bjrs.v9i1A.1491

Keywords:

REE, Fe3O4, INAA.

Abstract

Steel slag is considered a by-product of the steel industry and its reuse is a strategy for environmental protection, since it consists of potential polluting materials. Its main applications involve the use of large quantities of the raw material, but the extraction of ores in smaller proportions can be attractive. For example, magnetite (Fe₃O₄) may be of great interest for its magnetic properties in the production of composites with different applications. On the other hand, rare earth elements (REE) production is vital for new technologies and since traces of the different REE are found in most iron ores, their extraction can be conducted together. However, previous characterization of the slag is necessary; since they vary in mineralogical composition conform to steelmaking operations. Classical characterization techniques of ores such as X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) may be limited to characterize small fractions of materials. Therefore, in this study, neutron activation analysis was used as the characterization technique to confirm the presence of iron and REE in the slag. The steel slag composite sample of the Linz-Donawitz (LD) process was collected in a steelwork localized in the Iron Quadrangle, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The steel slag sample was characterized by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), using the nuclear research reactor TRIGA MARK I IPR-R1. The results are compared with the characterizations made with XRD and SEM-EDS. Although XRD and EDS results indicated the presence of magnetite in a small proportion, INAA was decisive confirming the presence of REE in the mineralogical composition of the composite sample collected.

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Author Biographies

Diogo Teixeira Moreira, Departamento de Engenharia Nuclear, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.

Mestrando do Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciencias e Técnicas Nucleares.

Maria Ângela de Barros Correia Menezes, Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear (CDTN) - Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear (CNEN).

Professor de Pós-graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia das Radiações, Minerais e Materiais do CDTN / CNEN e professora credenciada no Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências e Técnicas Nucleares da UFMG

Adriana de Souza Medeiros Batista, Departamento de Anatomia e Imagem, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.

Professora do Curso Superior de Tecnologia em Radiologia da Faculdade de Medicina da UFMG e Professora do Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências e Técnicas Nucleares do Departamento de Engenharia Nuclear - UFMG.

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