In the Pidgeon process involving a vertical pot,bonded slag pellets occasionally emerge at the bottom of the reduction pot,impeding smooth slag discharge.To reveal the formation mechanism of the bonded slag pellets,thermodynamic calculations,X-ray diffraction(XRD),X-ray fluorescence spectrometry(XRF),electron probe microanalyzer(EPMA),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC)were employed.The bonded slag pellets mainly comprise MgO,CaSi_(2),CaO,and Ca2SiO_(4).CaSi_(2) in the bonded slag pellets is attributed to the reduction reaction between Si and CaO,yielding liquid CaSi_(2).Simultaneously,the reaction between CaSi_(2) and MgO,which will typically produce Mg vapor,is inhibited,resulting in the accumulation of CaSi_(2).Owing to the solid-liquid transition of CaSi_(2),this process culminates in the bonding of slag pellets.This study can guide the Pidgeon process optimization,enabling mitigation of the“dead pot”issue,thereby enhancing efficiency and reducing costs.
