Primus® A Mature Technology Inducing New Developments

by Patrick C. Guillaume, René Stoltz, Francis Michaud, Jean-Luc Roth

Publisher - Paul Wurth Luxembourg, Paul Wurth International Taiwan

Category - General Novel

The PRIMUS® technology was developed in the late 1990’s by Paul Wurth. Originally the technology was intended to treat iron ore to produce direct reduced iron (DRI). Eventually, the PRIMUS® technology appeared as an efficient and superior solution for treating iron and steel residues. The technology is a combination of a multiple hearth furnace (MHF) and an electric arc furnace (EAF). The first industrial application was started 3 years ago in Luxembourg for Primorec, a member of the Arcelor – Mittal group. The installation processes residues (mainly EAF dust) from the steelmaking industry and bearing non ferrous components such as zinc, lead and precious metals. In addition, twenty percent of the feed consists of oily mill scales. The total capacity is 80 000 t per year. In mid-2006, Dragon Steel Company, a member of the China Steel Company of Taiwan, contracted Paul Wurth for the construction of a PRIMUS® plant of 120 000 t per year nominal capacity for processing EAF dusts and other iron and steel making residues. The plant will start up mid-2008. The PRIMUS® technology has induced the development of other applications as well as other technologies. The technology has been successfully tested on stainless steel residue for Ni recovery. It has also been applied for the treatment of catalysts and for the treatment of non-ferrous industry residues (mainly zinc and copper). Downstream of the PRIMUS® Paul Wurth has set up processes for the treatment and valorisation of the PRIMUS® oxides in order to produce pure metals and marketable by products. The technology is presently being revisited for capacity and process in order to widen its range of application and, more particularly, to come back to the original objective to produce pig iron from iron ore mixed with high volatile coal. The latest achievements of the PRIMUS® technology and its evolutions are presented.

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