Abstract: A three-stage process for obtaining metallic Cr units insitu during the production of stainless steel. Raw chromite ore or a concentrate produced from chromite ore is mixed with a carbonaceous reductant and slagging agents are added to an iron bath (24) for smelting and refining in a refining reactor (10). During the first stage, partially metallized chromite is smelted by carbon in the reactor that is top-and bottom-blown with oxygen and oxygen-containing gases respectively to produce a chromium alloy bath having a carbon content well below saturation. In the second stage, the alloy bath is decarburized by being bottom stirred with the oxygen-containing gas to the final bath carbon specification. In the third stage, the alloy bath is reduced by a metalloid reductant such as silicon or aluminum and again bottom stirred but with a non-oxidizing gas to achieve a high chromium yield.

Abstract: A process for magnesium desulfurization of ferrous metal melts in a vessel comprising the provision of a fluid, high sulfur capacity slag wherein the weight ratio of slag constituents associated with sulfur to slag constituents associated with oxygen is greater than 0.8, followed by addition of magnesium to the melt in an amount sufficient to combine with the sulfur in the melt, transfer to the sulfur removed by the magnesium addition to the slag, and retention of the removed sulfur in the slag, thereby improving magnesium desulfurization efficiency and substantially eliminating sulfur reversion from the slag back to the melt.