A Method of Recovery of Boron from Pig Iron and Boron Oxide from Slag

The oxidation rates of the elements in molten pig iron weighing 1kg contained in a graphite or an alumina crucible were measured by adding Fe2O3, CaO, Na2CO3, BaO, BaCO3, and Li2CO3 onto the bath. The dissolution rate of B2O3 in slag in distilled water or HCl solution was estimated by adding 10g of slag into water or a solution of 300cm3, stirring for 30min, and filtering. Boron in pig iron was effectively oxidized and trapped in the slag by the addition of Fe2O3 containing high basic fluxes under a higher oxidation atmosphere at low temperatures. Recovery of B2O3 can effectively be made by the dissolution of slag in distilled water at 100°C and more efficiently in HCl solution above 0.25N at 50°C. The dissolution of B2O3 in water was interfered by MnO, FeO, and SiO2.