Air Pollution from Steel and Iron Industry

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AN ESSAY ON AIR POLLUTION FROM STEEL AND IRON INDUSTRY by ARUN EDATHODY Mar 2013 AIR POLLUTION FROM IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY Introduction Steelmaking for the most part is one series of metallurgical operations carried on at high temperatures. Large quantities of solid, liquid and gaseous fuel are burned, and significant amounts of the process ingredients find their way into the air or gas streams which are a necessary part or ingredient of the process. For example, about 8 tons of air enters into the making of one ton of steel. Converted to more meaningful terms, air is used at the rate of about 2.5 million cfm at a typical steel plant. Some of this air becomes, heavily laden with iron and its oxides by the time it has served its primary function in the process, other portions with sulfur compounds, and still others with a multitude of contaminants both gaseous and solid. Air pollution control in steel plants, then, is directed at (1) removing most of the objectionable impurities from the air or gas discharged to the outside and (2) keeping to a minimum the escape of pollutants from other miscellaneous or unpreventable sources. The process of steelmaking has undergone many changes in the 20th century based on the political, social and technological atmosphere. As environmental concerns have gained importance in the 1980s and 1990s, regulations have become more stringent, again changing the steelmaking industry. In 1995, compliance with environmental requirements was estimated to make up 20-30% of the capital costs in new steel plants. Steel Making Process Steel production at an integrated steel plant involves three basic steps. First, the heat source used to melt iron ore is produced. Next the iron ore is melted in a furnace. Finally, the molten iron is processed to produce steel. These three steps can be done at one facility; however, the fuel

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