Abstract: A process for the continuous treatment of hot metal as it is running from the blast furnace, in order to enable low phosphorus and sulphur levels to be attained simply and cheaply, so that the metal thus treated is suitable for subsequent use in the convertor for the preparation of steels with a low and very low impurities content. Desulphurizing agent is added to the hot metal flowing in a trough into which it falls from the iron notch of a blast furnace, at a point close to that falling stream of hot metal. The silicon level is measured; and when it exceeds 0.25%, a silicon reduction agent is subsequently added to the hot metal in the trough. Finally, a phosphorus reduction agent is added to the hot metal as it leaves the trough and falls into a receptacle such as a torpedo car. Slag can be skimmed following sulphur and silicon treatments. The order of addition of the silicon reducing agent and sulphur reducing agent can be reversed.

Abstract: A continuous process for the reduction of impurities in hot metal from a blast furnace, in which the hot metal is tapped into runners and then discharged into a torpedo car. The silicon and phosphorus contents are measured; and if silicon is greater than 0.25% by weight, then a silicon reduction agent is added to the tapped metal at the upstream end of the runners. An appropriate amount of phosphorus reduction agent is added to the hot metal at the downstream end of the runners as the hot metal falls into the torpedo car.