Abstract: A process for smelting iron-containing source material in a reactor containing a slag bath, includes generating heating and reducing conditions in at least one reducing region of the bath by injection of fuel/reductant and oxygen-containing gas by at least one top submerged lance. The source material is fed to the reactor together with additional reductant and with flux at or adjacent the at least one reducing region so as to be subjected to smelting reduction, using coal as the additional reductant. The rates of injection of oxygen and fuel/reductant are controlled to achieve required and sufficient reducing conditions by providing the injected gas with an oxygen content from about 40% to about 100% sufficient for a degree of combustion of the fuel/reductant of from about 40% to about 50%. The CO and H.sub.

Abstract: A process for smelting metallurgical waste material containing at least one iron compound, at lest one heavy metal, and at least one toxic element. The waste material and a reductant are introduced into a furnace. Heat is applied to the waste material and to the reductant to form a melt under reducing conditions whereby volatilization of the heavy metal occurs and a matte or speiss is formed in which the toxic element is stabilized. Fuel and an oxidizing gas are introduced into the melt by submerged injection to create a submerged oxidizing region. The melt is circulated to the submerged oxidizing region and is oxidized causing volatilization of the toxic element stabilized in the matte or speiss.