Utilization of indigenous steel scrap for iron powder production-A study of dissolution rates of scrap in hydrocholoric acid

A study has been carried out on the dissolution of indigenous steel scrap in hydrochloric acid to determine the parameters controlling the process. The effect of temperature, concentration of acid, presence of free ferrous chloride, surface area and carbon content of scrap were some of the factors that were studied. Optimum temperatures between 95°C and 100°C were observed at optimum acid concentration levels around 7M. The results obtained are likely to lead to the utilization of steel scrap for the production of high purity iron and iron oxide powders through the media of dissolution in hydrochloric acid and electrolysis of the ferrous chloride intermediate. (Shri A.K. Saha, Senior Scientific Assistant, Shri A. Kumar, Junior Research Fellow, Shri D.D. Akerkar, Design Engineer and Shri M.J. Shahani, Scientist and Head, Design & Engineering Division and Extractive Metallurgy Division, National Metallurgical Laboratory)