United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Industrial Environmental Reaearch
Laboratory
Reaearch Triangle Park NC 27711
EPA-400/2-7V-024
January 1979
Research and Development
Survey of Fouling, Foam,
Corrosion, and Scaling
Control in Iron and  Steel
Industry Recycle Systems

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                 RESEARCH REPORTING SERIES


Research reports of the Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, have been grouped into nine series. These nine broad cate-
gories were established to facilitate further development and application of en-
vironmental technology. Elimination  of traditional  grouping  was consciously
planned to foster technology transfer and a maximum interface in related fielr1
The nine series are:

    1. Environmental Health Effects Research

    2. Environmental Protection Technology

    3. Ecological Research

    4. Environmental Monitoring

    5. Socioeconomic Environmental Studies

    6. Scientific  and Technical Assessment Reports  (STAR)

    7. Interagency Energy-Environment Research and Development

    8. "Special"  Reports

    9. Miscellaneous Reports

This report has been assigned to the  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TECH-
NOLOGY series. This series describes research performed to develop and dem-
onstrate instrumentation, equipment,  and methodology to repair or prevent en-
vironmental degradation from point and non-point sources of pollution. This work
provides the new or improved technology required for the control and treatment
of pollution sources to meet environmental quality standards.
                        EPA REVIEW NOTICE
This report has been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and
approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily
reflect the views and policy of the Agency, nor does mention of trade names or
commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

This document is available to the public through the National Technical Informa-
tion Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161.

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                                 EPA-600/2-79-024

                                      January 1979
    Survey of  Fouling, Foam,
Corrosion, and  Scaling  Control
    in  Iron and Steel  Industry
          Recycle  Systems
                      by

                    K.S. Rajan

                  NT Research Institute
                  10 West 35th Street
                 Chicago, Illinois 60616
                 Contract No. 68-02-2617
                    Task No. 2-2
                Program Element No. 1BB610
             EPA Project Officer: John S. Ruppersberger

            Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory
             Office of Energy, Minerals, and Industry
               Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
                    Prepared for

            U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
              Office of Research and Development
                 Washington, DC 20460

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                                  ABSTRACT

     The state-of-the art for fouling foaming, corrosion and scaling control
in the treatment and recycle of process waters of integrated iron and steel
mills was reviewed.  Both published literature and on-site data on the
following areas collected through visits to process water treatment facili-
ties of selected iron and steel companies were examined:  (1) character
of the waste waters generated in the different processes associated with iron
and steel making,  (2) current treatment practices of the recireulating
systems and (3) the corrosion, scaling, fouling and foaming problems
encountered in the treatment processes and the presently adopted methods
for solving them.  Possible problems that might be encountered in the
application of the present technology to waste treatment in conformity
with the 1983 effluent guidelines of the EPA were taken into consideration
and recommendations were made for appropriate Research and Development
efforts.

     The waste waters of iron and steel industry are derived from non-
contact cooling and scrubbing operations.  Present technology appears
adequate for the treatment and control of the non-contact cooling waters.
The treatment of the scrubber waters which are highly contaminated with
suspended and dissolved solids and a variety of pollutants consists of the
removal of the suspended solids and heat loads, decrease the dissolved
solid content by blow down and recycle.  The formation of chemical scales
and deposit constitutes a major problem and this is presently being
obviated by controlling the chemical stability of the recireulating waters
through acid addition and blow down.

     Research and Development efforts recommended for the process water
treatment under a high degree of recycle (1983 EPA guidelines) include
(a) effective scale inhibition and control (b) automatic monitoring of
the chemical stability of the process waters and the corrosion of the
materials of construction and (c) sensitive methods for on-line determination
and control of phosphate and phosphonate in the recireulating effluents.

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                                  CONTENTS
Abstract	11
Figures	IV
Tables	lv

     1.  Introduction	1
     2.  Conclusions	4
     3.  Recommendations	'	6
              Effective Scale  Inhibition	6
              Automatic Monitoring  of  the  Chemical  Stability	7
              Corrosion and  Erosion Monitoring	7
              Determination  of Phosphate  (Phosphonate)  In  The
                Recirculating  Effluents  	8
              Exploration  of Novel  Physical Methods For
                Continuous Scale  Removal	8
     4.  Process Waters, Their Treatments  And Associated Problems  	9
              Coke  Ovens	9
              Corrosion And  Scaling Problems   	  12
              Sintering Plant  	  12
              Potential Scaling and Corrosion Conditions And
                Their  Control	15
              Blast Furnace	15
              Scaling  And  Corrosion Problems And  Their  Control   	  21
              Steel Making Process	22
              Scaling, Corrosion, Fouling  and Foaming  	  24
              Continuous Casting   	  24
              Hot Mills	26
              Probelms of  Scaling,  Corrosion and  Fouling   	  30
              Pickling Waste Waters 	  31
              Cold  Rolling	32
              Metal Coating  Operations  	  34

References	35
Bibliography 	  37
Appendices

     A.  Effluent Limitations  Guidelines  of U.S.  EPA Set On
            The  Basis of BPCTCA And  BATEA	39
     B.  List of Contacts	42
                                      ill

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                                   FIGURES


Number                                                                 Page

  1    Treatment of Coke-Plant Waste Waters   	   H

  2    A Modular System for Coke Plant Process Water Treatment  ....   13

  3    Sinter Plant Process Water Treatment And Recycle   	   16

  4    Process Water Treatment And Recycle For Blast Furnace  	   20

  5    Water Flow Diagram For EOF System	23

  6    Spray Cooling Recirculations System 	   27

  7    Treatment and Recirculation System for Machine Cooling Waters  .   28

  8    Treatment of Waste Waters of Cold  Rolling Operations   	   33
                                   TABLES
Number                                                                 Page

   1    Typical Analysis of Weak Ammonia Liquor  	   10

   2    Variations in The Characteristics of Waste Ammonia
       Liquor	14

   3    Sinter Plant Scrubber Water Recirculating System   	   17

   4    Blast Furnace Scrubber Water Recirculating System  	   19

   5    Mold Deposits With Nature and Causes	25

   6    Types of Deposits That Can Plug Spray Nozzles And
       Headers	29
                                     iv

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                                  SECTION 1

                                INTRODUCTION
     This report covers the results of a review made on the state-of-the-art
for fouling, foaming, corrosion and scaling control in the treatment and
recycle of process waters of integrated iron and steel mills.  Our approach
in this study consisted of (i) determination of the character of the waste
waters generated in the different processes connected with the production
of iron, steel and steel products in integrated steel mills, (ii) deter-
mination of the current practices (methods) for the treatment of the waste
waters in recirculating systems, (iii) determination of the problems of
corrosion, scaling, fouling and foaming that are encountered in carrying
out the treatment of process waters and their recirculation (iv) evaluation
of the methods currently being practised by the iron and steel mills for
controling these problems (v) extrapolation of the problems under high
degree of recycle in accordance with the 1983 effluent guidelines of the
EPA, and (vi) a critical review of the problems and the currently-practised
methods of control.

     The overall objectives of this study are (a) to identify the
deficiencies in the current practices, (b) to identify the potential
problem areas in extrapolating to the requirements of the 1983 guidelines
and (c) to outline the Research & Development efforts that might be under-
taken for solving the present and projected future problems.

     According to published reports, there are little over 60 integrated
steel plants in this country.  (An integrated steel mill is one which has
both the primary and finishing facilities situated in one location.)  It
has been generally estimated by a number of reviewersl»2 that 150-180
cubic meters of water per tonne of raw steel produced are required in the
operation of an integrated steel plant.  The actual consumption of water
might be as little as 5% of the above figure, if appropriate waste treatment
and recirculation practices are adopted2.

     Since nearly two thirds of the total flows of water applied in an
integrated steel mill are used for the purpose of heat exchange, they
remain clean and hence do not require any major treatment.  However,
the rest of the waters which come into direct contact with the off-gases
 1D. Kwasnowski, International Metallurgical Reviews,  20,  137-145  (1975).

 2R. Nebolsine, Iron and Steel Engineer, 44, 122-135  (1967).

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and the products require elaborate treatments prior to being recirculated.
In examining the character of the waste waters and their treatment methods,
it is important to consider separately the effluent waters  (and their
associated pollutants) from the different steel making and  finishing
operations within an integrated steel mill.  For this reason, the waste
water problem is examined individually for the following major operations
(or subcategories):

      (1)  Coke-ovens
      (2)  Sinter plant
      (3)  Blast Furnace
      (4)  Steel making processes

          (a)  Basic oxygen furnace
          (b)  Electric furnace
          (c)  Open hearth furnace

      (5)  Hot mills
      (6)  Pickling
      (7)  Cold rolling
      (8)  Metal coating

      Section 301 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of
 1972  (PL-92-500) requires the achievement of effluent standards of critical
parameters  for existing industrial point sources (waste waters discharged
 to navigable waterways) by July 1, 1977 through the application of the
 "Best practicable control technology currently available"  (BPCTCA) and
more  stringent effluent standards by July 1, 1983 by means  of the "Best
Available Technology Economically Achievable" (BATEA).  The proposed lim-
 itation guidelines for the iron and steel industry set by  the U.S. Environ-
mental  Protection Agency-* on the basis of BPCTCA and BATEA are summarized
 in Appendix 1.

      The work undertaken toward the realization of the projected objectives
may briefly be outlined as follows:

      (i)  survey of published literature on the subject;

     (ii)  obtain related documents of EPA;

    (iii)  visit with steel mills and discuss with the environmental  control
          personnel their methods of waste water treatments;

     (iv)  visit with the chemical companies that are involved in the
          treatment of the process waste waters of steel mills and discuss
          their current methods of treatment, and problems, if any I
3
 "Development  Document  for  Effluent  limitation  guidelines and New Source
 Performance Standards  for  the Steel Making Segment of  the Iron  and  Steel
 Manufacturing Point Source Category"; EPA-440/l-74-024-a.

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    (v)   meet with a few design engineers experienced in the design and
         construction of waste-treatment facilities for the iron and steel
         industry;

   (vi)   review the information obtained from (a) published literature
         (b)  steel industry environmental personnel, (c) water treatment
         companies and (d)  design engineers; and

  (vii)   on the basis of a critical examination of the information gathered
         and reviewed as indicated above, delineate the current and
         potential problems of corrosion, scaling, fouling and foaming
         associated with the waste-water treatments in recirculating systems,
         and the R&D efforts that might be appropriate.

     The visits made to the different steel mills and water treatment
companies and the environmental engineers and consultants with whom we met
are listed in Appendix 2.

     In the following sections of this report, the individual subcategories
(processes) of the iron and steel making operations are presented and their
waste water treatments discussed.

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                                  SECTION 2

                                 CONCLUSIONS
     The waste waters from the different sub-categories of the iron and
steel making operations consist of non-contact cooling and scrubber waters.

     The non-contact cooling waters under closed system operating conditions
do not get contaminated except for their corrosion inhibitors and descaling
compounds.  No major problems of scaling, fouling and corrosion that cannot
be handled by applying the available technology have been reported in their
treatment and recycle.  Systems involving open cooling towers are subject
to chemical and biological contamination.  Problems of moderate corrosion,
scaling and biological fouling associated with these systems are being
controlled by the presently available technology.

     The scrubber waters are highly contaminated with suspended solids,
variety of dissolved solids containing Ca, Mg, Fe, S0?~, Cl~, C0^~, and other
pollutants such as ammonia, cyanides and a few toxic heavy metals.  The
current practice for their treatment and recirculation consists of (a) remov-
al of suspended solids, (b) removal of heat loads (c) decrease the dissolved
solid content by blow down from the system and (d) recycle them.  Formation
of chemical scales and deposits and consequent pluggage of the spray
nozzles and supply lines appear to be a severe problem of major proportions.
A major deficiency rests with the present method of control of scale and
corrosion in the scrubber water recirculating systems.  This is presently
done by controlling the chemical stability of the recirculating waters
through the addition of acids and blow down rate.  The chemical stability
determination is based on calcium carbonate equilibrium and does not take
into account (a) the complexing chemical interactions of iron (and other
metals) and the anions such as cyanide, ammonia, phenol and other polyanionic
organic components and (b) physical, chemical and charge characteristics
of the finely divided suspended solids.  R&D efforts should be undertaken
to develop newer and more effective methods of (1) determining the chemical
stability of the recirculating waste waters (2) automatic monitoring of the
chemical stability and (3) novel scale control methods.

     Systematic data on the chemical and physical characteristics of the
process effluents before and after treatment and the nature and amounts of
inhibitors for corrosion, scaling and biological fouling are not available
in the published literature nor could they be obtained from the waste-water
treatment facilities.  For an effective technical evaluation of the currently
practised waste treatment methods, it is important to know:

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     (1)   chemical analysis of the dissolved and suspended solids of the
          influent and effluent process waters at different points along
          the waste treatment,

     (2)   the chemical nature (structure) of the cationic and anionic
          polyelectrolytes that are used for the floculations and sedimenta-
          tion of the finely divided suspended solids in the clarifiers,

     (3)   the chemical structure of the on-line additives for the control
          of scaling, corrosion and biological fouling.

Information on (2) and (3) are not available due to their proprietary nature
and systematic data on (1) are not readily available.

     R&D efforts that are considered necessary for overcoming some of the
problem areas identified in this survey and for carrying out an effective
treatment and recirculation of the waste-waters, are outlined in the next
section.

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                                  SECTION 3

                               RECOMMENDATIONS
     On the basis of this review, it is found that a few important problem
areas do exist in the treatment and recirculation of the waste waters
from the different subcategories of the iron and steel making operations.
It is considered that R&D efforts undertaken on the following topics
might help alleviate the problems.

EFFECTIVE SCALE INHIBITION

     The method currently being practised for the control of scale formation
in the recirculating waste-water streams consists of:

     (1)  determination of the chemical stability of the waste waters by
          using Ryznar Stability Index (RSI) or Langelier's Saturation
          Index  (LSI),

     (2)  control of the chemical stability of the system by (a) acid
          addition and (b) blow down

     (3)  on-line additions of scale inhibitors and dispersants.

In spite of this treatment, failures in the prevention of CaF2~type-,
and iron compounds-based scales accellerated by the accumulation of finely
divided suspended solids are not too uncommon in their occurrance.  The
present method of control of the chemical stability of the recirculating
water system is based on Ryznar Stability Index (RSI) or the Langelier's
Saturation Index (LSI) and it does not reflect the complexing interactions
of iron and other polyvalent cations and a number of polyvalent anions
of inorganic and organic nature.  The RSI or the LSI is mainly based on
calcium carbonate equilibrium in the environment of the other ions in the
system.  Further, in the proposed zero discharge recirculating systems,
the concentrations of the dissolved solids will be several fold larger
than at present and therefore their reactions leading to the formation
of scales may be more complex.  The scale inhibitor and dispersant systems
under these conditions should be able to interact with calcium, iron and
any other polyvalent cation in the combined presence of the different
anions of inorganic and organic nature.  The R&D efforts should consist of:

        an investigation of the chemical and physical characteristics of the
        process effluents at several points along the recirculating system,

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     •   a critical examination of the chemical stability index and develop
        modifications to include the complexing interactions discussed
        above,

     •   physicochemical studies on the interactions of the effluent cations
        with a number of selected inhibitor compounds,

     •   investigation of the physical and chemical characteristics of the
        finely divided suspended solids and their interactions with the
        candidate inhibitors, polyelectrolytes and dispersants,

     •   on the basis of the above, develop inhibitor (and dispersant)
        systems and conditions for on-line application in an actual water-
        treatment facility.

AUTOMATIC MONITORING OF THE CHEMICAL STABILITY

     Since the chemical stability of the recirculating water system is
an important parameter for the control of the conditions of scaling and
corrosion in the process waters, continuous monitoring of the chemical
stability would be very useful.  Hence, instrumentation for its on-line
automatic monitoring should be developed.  At present, reliable automatic
monitoring devices for on-line application are not available.  R&D efforts
should therefore be undertaken on the following lines:

     (1)  investigation of one or more physicochemical basis for an effective
          measurement of this parameter

     (2)  design and building of the necessary exploratory instrumentation
          set-up

     (3)  on-line testing of the operational characteristics of the
          exploratory model thus developed.

CORROSION AND EROSION MONITORING

     Erosion of the metallic surfaces of the materials of construction of
the treatment facility by the suspended solids of varying sizes and
hardness is an important problem.  Further, corrosion of the metallic
surfaces underneath the encrustations of chemical scale is another important
problem.  In order to protect the materials of construction and to prevent
any catastrophic failure, appropriate monitoring of erosion and corrosion
should be undertaken.  Research and development efforts should be under-
taken toward the development of automatic corrosion and erosion probes
for on-line application.  The work will consist of:

     1.  physicochemical studies and

     2.  the development of the necessary instrumentation.

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DETERMINATION OF PHOSPHATE (PHOSPHONATE) IN THE RECIRCULATING EFFLUENTS

     In discussions with one of the chemical companies involved in the
treatment of process waters, it was found that for the inhibition of the
scale formation and corrosion the inhibitor compounds are added to the
recirculating process water system and controlled by a determination
of the residual phosphate or phosphonate (from the inhibitor additive)levels.
Reliable determination of the residual phosphates at the low levels and
in the combined presence of the dissolved and suspended solids in the
recirculating waters is a real problem of analytical chemical nature.  The
lack of proper sensitive determination of phosphate leads to unreliable
and somewhat unpredictable control measures in waste treatment.  This
problem may be magnified several fold under conditions of zero discharge
effluent limitation guidelines.  Research and development efforts should
be directed toward the development of a sensitive analytical method suitable
for field application.  The development of automatic monitoring instrumenta-
tion may be of added advantage.

EXPLORATION OF NOVEL PHYSICAL METHODS FOR CONTINUOUS SCALE REMOVAL

     Since chemical scale formation, deposit build up and consequent pluggage
of the return lines and scrubber nozzles of the recirculating waste water
systems constitute a major problem, it may be worthwhile exploring novel
physical methods for their inhibition and control.  One such possible
approach is the disintegration of "scale and deposit nuclei" build up by
the application of magnetic field to the fluid flow system.  This principle
is currently being practised by a commercial company for domestic water
system and biolers.  A systematic investigation on the application of this
approach might be undertaken.

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                                  SECTION 4

           PROCESS WATERS, THEIR TREATMENTS AND ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS
COKE OVENS

     Coke which is nearly pure carbon is used in the blast furnace (i) as a
reducing agent for converting iron ore into iron and (ii) as a fuel.  In
the United States, the conversion of coal to metallurgical coke is done
largely by the by-product recovery process.  In this process, bituminous
coal is subjected to destructive distillation in the absence of air at
950-1100°C.  The volatile matters evolved in this process consist of
gases and vapors.  The gases include H2, CH^, ^2^6' C02» co» ethylene,
butylene, acetylene, H2S, NHo, 02 and N^.  The vaporized liquids in the
gaseous mixture consist of ammonia liquor, tar and light oil.  The gases,
tar and water vapor are taken through the primary coolers.  The tar is
then separated from the water, which is called the waste ammonia liquor.
The direct contact cooling and cleaning of the gases and chemical by-products
gives rise to the other major waste waters of the coke-oven plant.  Coke
dishcarged from the ovens is quenched by water sprays for which generally
the source water is directly used.  The quenching water is recirculated.
Coke is transported to the balst furnace area and the chemicals volatilized
during coking process and taken to the by-product plant where ammonium
sulfate, tar, pitch and light oil are removed from the coke-oven gas.

     The major waste water streams from the coke-oven process thus consist
of weak ammonia liquor from primary coolers, final cooler water used for
direct contact gas clenaing, benzol-plant waste water derived from stripping
operations in benzol recovery plant and cooling water from light oil
recovery plants, quench water resulting from the quenching of coke and other
wastewaters consisting of tar plant wastes containing phenols, desulfurizer
liquor containing thiocyanates and sulfides and pipeline drippings.

     Weak ammonia liquor is the waste water for the primary cooler system
of coke-oven process amounting to 65 to 150 liters per tonne of coal  .
The major contaminants in this liquor consist of ammonia, phenol, cyanide,
suspended solids and oil.  The chemical characteristics of this waste water
vary considerably from plant to plant depending upon the coal mix, type
of oven, extent and type of by-products recovered and the recovery process
 J. W. Schroeder and A. C. Naso, Iron and Steel Engineer, 1976, p. 60-66.

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employed.  A typical analysis of the chemical composition of this waste
water is presented in Table I1.  The varying characteristics of  the weak

	TABLE 1.  TYPICAL ANALYSIS OF WEAK AMMONIA LIQUOR	

    Component                                 Concentration mg/1

Ammonia                                              6900
Cyanide                                                40
Phenol                                                870
Thiocyanate                                           860
Carbon dioxide                                        440
Total sulphur                                        1000
Sulphate                                               35
Hydrogen sulphide                                      30
Chloride                                             11000
ammonia  liquor  from different sources are shown in Table 2.

      The final  cooling of the coke oven gas utilizes a direct contact water
system.   Naphthalene  is recovered as a by-product from this water.  The
contaminants  of this  waste water are:  cyanide, phenol, and ammonia.
A portion of  this water is recirculated to the final coolers and some for
coke-quenching.

      The waste  waters from the plants for the recovery of benzol and light
oil are  contaminated  mainly with oil and small amounts of phenol and cyanide.

      Coke-quenching practices differ considerably with the different plants.
A number of the plants use the raw water from rivers or lakes for quenching
and adopt recirculation system.  Some other plants use weak ammonia liquor
for quenching.

      Tar plant  wastes, desulphurizer liquors and gas-line condensate leakages
constitute the  other  miscellaneous waste waters from the coke-oven plants.
Phenols,  thiocyanates and sulfides are the main contaminants in these
waste waters.

      The methods of treatment of the coke-oven waste waters essentially
consist  of (1)  removal of ammonia from waste ammonia liquor (WAL) by steam
distillation,  (2) biological oxidation of the phenolic wastes and other
contaminants  consisting of cyanides, cyanates and thiocyanates, and
(3) sedimentation.

      The schematic of a possible multistage treatment of coke-plant waste-
waters indicated in the published literature*- is shown in Figure 1.
 D. Kwasnowski,  International Metallurgical Reviews,  20,  137-145  (1975).
                                     10

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weaK
*} m noon i/3
Cll 1 11 * IV" MO
liquor (NH3,
phenol)

H\on "7/">l
\J\£i 1 f. v^l
wastes
, ^
(oil, phenol)

final cooler
> ti
wastes
(CN, phenol)
r

ammonia
still

^oi
air
^flotation
r**Ct
cyanide
stripper

HI



1


^



3




>
•I 1 1 k
• W"
i








CO2
f _,
bio -oxidation
L »* (phenol to
COp * H2O)
C- ^-
_
sludge
to
disposal



•


treated
k-
cfflucnt




        FIGURE 1.   TREATMENT OF COKE-PLANT WASTE-WATERS

[TAKEN  FROM "WATER POLLUTION CONTROL IN AN INTEGRATED STEEL
 PLANT",  D,  KWASANOWSKI,  INTL,  METALLURG,  REV,, 2Q., 137'-145

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Recirculation is reported only for the final cooler and the coke-quenching
waste-water systems.  A modular system has recently been developed^ for
the treatment of coke-plant waste waters which utilizes an activated carbon
adsorption module for the removal of the organics prior to steam distillation
of ammonia.  In a parallel operation, the final cooler waters and other
waters pass through a clarification unit for the removal of suspended solids
and oil, followed by passage through an activated carbon absorption module.
A schematic of this is shown in Figure 2.

CORROSION AND SCALING PROBLEMS

     Published information on the treatment of coke-oven waste waters
do not discuss any major problems of corrosion, scaling and fouling.  On
the basis of our site visits and telephone contacts with some of the steel
companies, it was found that only a few of them carry out the biological
treatment in their own facility.  After the recovery of the by-products
the effluents are generally discharged into minicipal sewers.  Further
as indicated earlier, only limited recirculation is practiced in the
treatment and handling of the final cooler water and quench water.  In the
event of establishing a recirculating system, there exist the possible
problems of chemical scaling (resulting from the lime addition in the steam
distillation of ammonia) and corrosion due to the possible pH drops in the
recirculating final cooler waters.  Systems and conditions can be developed
for obviating these problems through the use of caustic soda as a replace-
ment  for lime addition and the use of proper pH control.

SINTERING PLANT

      In the sintering plant, iron-bearing wastes such as mill scale and
finely-divided dust from the basic oxygen furnace, open hearth furnace
and blast furnace are blended with fine iron ore and limestone to form
an agglomerate that would be suitable for being recharged into the blast
furnace.  The mixture consisting of the iron-bearing components, limestone
and coke fines is placed on travelling grates of the sinter machine and is
heated to fusion temperature to produce the sinter.  The sintering operation
also  produces carbon dioxide, sulfur, chloride and fluoride.  In addition
to these contaminants, the process gases contain dust, and volatilized
oil from the mill scale.  The dust produced in the sintering process is
drawn through wind boxes beneath the traveling grates into the gas main
where large particles drop out into a series of dust hoppers.  In order
to control the dust generated at the various points, de-duster systems
are also operated which utilize wet scrubbers.  Sludge draining from the
scrubbers of the de-duster systems flows by gravity to the sinter plant
clarifier.

     The wet scrubbers for cleaning the wind boxes and the gases of the
de-duster systems constitute the sources of process waste water in the
sinter plant.  The contaminants of the waste waters consist of suspended
 4
 J. W.  Schroeder  and A.  C. Naso,  Iron and  Steel Engineer,  1976,  p.  60-66.

                                     12

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                         DISiOlVED CAS

                          KOf AIION
                                                      DUAl CEll

                                                    CIAVITT fUI|«
FIGURE 2,  A MODULAR  SYSTEM FOR COKE PLANT PROCESS WATER  TREATMENT

[TAKEN FROM "A  NEW  METHOD OF TREATING COKE PLANT WASTE  WATER", J.W.SCHROEDER
 AND A, CHARLES NASO,  IND,  STEEL ENGR,, P, 60-66 Q976)]

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    TABLE  2.   VARIATIONS  IN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF WASTE AMMONIA LIQUOR
Waste Generated
(liters/ tonne)
Company Total /Wai
1
2 275
3 374
4 303
5 1943
**
6 346
7 343
8 626
9 251
10 417
11
175
192
160
163
167
150
196
125
138


Total
Ammonia
pH mg/1
8.7 5500
9.1 2800
9841
6500
8.5 5000
6.5-8.5 1500
7.5-8.5 3900
5.5 2500

3010
8.8-9.1 .1713-3417
Total
Cyanides
mg/1
100
140
10
65
50
15(1400)
10-100
4


10-200
Phenol
mg/1
3000
400
1753
1690
2500
550
200-300
200
350
770
660-840

*\
 Taken from Carnegie Mellon Institute Report: "An Evaluation of EPA-
 recommended technology for the treatment and control of Waste Waters
 from by-product coke plants", G.  M.  Wong Chong, S. C. Caruso and
 T. G. Patarlis.
**
  The value in parenthesis is thiocyanate.
                                     14

-------
solids (mainly iron oxide), oil and grease  and acidity.  Depending upon  the
nature and composition of the feed mixture  for the  sintering  process,  the
concentrations of the contaminants and pH vary.

     The currently practised waste treatment  technology  for the  sinter
plant waste waters consists of  (i) removal  of suspended  solids in a
clarifier by the addition of appropriate polyelectrolytes.  The  under  flow
from the clarifier is vacuum-filtered within  the  sinter  plant and the
filtered cake recharged to the  sinter furnace.  In  a  recirculating system
the over flow is re-used after  the necessary  blowdown followed by make-up
water additions.  A schematic for the waste-water^  recirculating system
reported by Krikau and DeCaigny is shown in Figure  3  for the  purpose of
illustration.  Typical data on  the flow and chemical  parameters  reported
earlier by the Interlake Corporation are presented  in Table 3 for the
purpose of illustration only**.

POTENTIAL SCALING AND CORROSION CONDITIONS  AND THEIR  CONTROL

     In the sinter plant, conditions of high  basicity sinter  often exist
when the lime and magnesia contents of the  dusts  in the  sinter plant
scrubbers becomes high and consequently the scrubber  water pH exceeds  12.
The current method for controlling scaling  and corrosion in the  scrubber
water treatment  and recycle system is through the addition of acid and
blow down and thereby controlling the chemical stability of the  water
 (Ryznar Index).  In this method, severe corrosion might  be brought about
by increased acid additions and decreased blow down rate.  With  decreased
acid addition, a concommitant high increase in blow down rate is
necessary to bring Ryznar index to the range  of 5-7 and  thus  prevent
conditions of scale formation.  Under conditions  of zero discharge, the
above method of  corrosion and scale control may present  problems.  It  is
felt that research and development eff'orts  should be  directed toward
the development  of suitable additives for deactivating the chemical scale-
forming metal ions and at the same time controlling the  pH and affording
corrosion protection.

BLAST FURNACE

     The production of iron from iron ores  and other  iron-bearing materials
is carried out in the blast furnace.  The iron-bearing materials, coke and
limestone  (and dolomite) are charged into the top of  the blast furnace and
hot air is blown into the bottom.  Reducing gases from the coke  (and from
the liquid or gaseous fuels injected with the air blast  at the tuyers)
react with the oxygen of the iron ores and  form porous iron.  The fluxes
 (limestone and dolomite) react  with the impurities  in the charge (burden)
  Fred.  G.  Krikau and  Roger  R.  DeCaigny,  San Francisco  Regional  Technical
  Meeting  of  the  Amer.  Iron  and Steel  Inst.,  1970.

  R.  E.  Touzalin,  "Pollution Control of blast furnace plant  gas  scrubbers
  through  recirculation",  Interlake Steel Corporation's report prepared  for
  U.S. EPA, Project  12010.

                                     15

-------
    FILTER CAKE

    TO SINTER MACHINE
— I
VACUUM
FILTERS
i
\

f
             VACUUM
             FILTERS
               I
    UNDERFLOW SLURRY
COOLING
TOWER •
                  RECYCLE
                  PU.MPHOUSE
                  4  PUMPS'"
               WATER
                TO
WATER

 TO
     A
              AIR
               COOLING] AJLB    i
               IQW^g.  igCRUSBf_R  |
LJ l±
CLARIFIER



-i.
H





f'l
J 11



/


"*> y
OVER FLOW
TO
COOLIING
TOWER
PUMPS

/I i
r




f





1 1

or
lit
(Z
ft
<
_l
0
/~-





II.H. 1 J

                                         UOIDER FLOW  rO
                                         .VACUUM  PILTE_RS
                                            UNDER  FLOW TO

                                            VACUUM FILTERS
           FIGURE  3.   SINTER PLANT  PROCESS WATER TREATMENT AND RECYCLE

(TAKEN FROM  F.G.KRIKAU AND R.R.DE CAIGNY,  SAN FRANCISCO  REGIONAL TECHNICAL
 MEETING OF  THE  AMER,  IRON AND  STEEL INST,, 1970)

-------
                       TABLE  3.   SINTER PLANT  SCRUBBER WATER RECIRCULATING  SYSTEM
Balanced Condition Parameters
Location
Make-up Water
Clarifier Influent
Clarifier Effluent
Clarifier Underflow
Blow-Down
Evaporation Loss
Flow
liters/
min
1363
2612
2385
190
1136
38
Suspended
Solids
kg /tonne
of Iron
Produced
0.043
19.16
0.47
18.7
0.22

Ammonia
Nitrogen
kg /tonne
of Iron
Produced
0.002
0.053
0.036
0.002
0.018

Cyanide
kg /tonne
of Iron
Produced
O.OOOOi
0.043
0.011
0.032
0.006

Phenol
kg /tonne
of Iron
Produced
0.000009
0.0014
0.000025
0.0013
0.000011

Iron
kg/ tonne
of Iron
Produced
0.0013
7.2
0.042
7.15
0.02

PH
8.1
10.5
11.0
11.2
11.0


r%
Taken from "Pollution Control of blast  furnace  plant  gas  scrubbers  through recirculation",
R.  E. Touzalin,  Interlake Steel Corp. Rep.  prepared for EPA Project 12010.

-------
to form the slag.  Molten iron collects in the hearth of the furnace and
molten slag forms a pool on the top of the molten iron.  Periodically, the
furnace is tapped and iron and slag are withdrawn.  An important by-product
of the blast furnace process is its exhaust gas which is used as a fuel
for preheating the hot blast in the stoves and as supplemental fuel for
boilers.

     The blast furnace gas is wet-scrubbed (i) to remove particulate matter
from the gas (ii) to reduce its moisture content and thus increase its BTU
value.  Besides the suspended solids, the significant pollutants in the
blast furnace gas scrubber water are cyanide, phenols, ammonia, temperature
and pH.  The particulate matter escaping into the blast furnace gas (and
subsequently removed by wet-scrubbing) consists of (i) oxides of iron,
CaC03, CaS, MgC03, Si02, CaO, MgO, KCN and carbon.  The scrubbing water
attains alkaline pH1s through its turbulant interaction with the alkaline
minerals and chemicals in the fumes and dust in the top gases of the
furnace.  Further because of its absorption of the thermal energy from
the hot gases, the gas cleaning water gets thermal pollution.  Data on
the water characteristics of the blast furnace sampler water recirculating
system reported earlier in the literature^ are presented in Table 4 for
the purpose of illustration only.
     A schematic of the blast furnace gas cleaning water recycle system
 taken  from  Interlake's report? is shown in Figure 4 for the purpose of
 illustration.  Generally, the gas-cleaning system operates under positive
 pressure  from  the blast furnace.  After 50 to 75% of the particulate
 matter in the  blast furnace gas in removed by the dust catchers, about 99%
 of  the residual particulates are collected by the venturi scrubber followed
 by  a mist eliminator or separator.  Finally, the gas cooler tower where
 the flow  is subjected to water sprays to cool the gas and condense any
 moisture  in excess of saturation.  In the recirculating system the venturi
 pumps  send  the gas-cleaning water to venturi scrubbers where the particulates
 are picked  up.  The gas cooler water picks up the heat from the blast
 furnace gas.   Effluents from the venturi and gas cooler are then combined
 and they  flow  to the clarifier (thickener).  Here the suspended solids
 are removed by gravity and by using chemicals and polyelectrolytes.  The
 resulting sludge is either removed as such or are subjected to vacuum
 filtration.  The process water over-flow from the thickener flows to the
 hot well  from  where it is sent to the cooling tower.  Finally the process
 water  from  the cooling tower goes to the cold well.  To control the
 dissolved solids in the system, part of the water is blown down either to
 a terminal  treatment plant or to the source rivers, lakes or municipal sewers.
 Make-up water  from either of the raw water sources  (rivers or lakes)
 R. E. Touzalin, "Pollution Control of blast furnace plant gas scrubbers
 through recirculation", Interlake Steel Corporation's report prepared
 for U.S. EPA, Project 12010.

 Fred G. Krikau and Roger R. DeCaigny, San Francisco Regional Technical
 Meeting of the Amer. Iron and Steel Inst., 1970.

                                     18

-------
                           TABLE  4.  BLAST  FURNACE  SCRUBBER WATER RECIRCUIATING SYSTEM
v£>

Balanced Condition Parameters

Location
Make-up Water
Clarifier Influent
Clarifier Effluent
Clarifier Underflow
Blow-Down
Evaporation Loss
Flow
liters/
min
2460
17034
16277
492
1703
265
Suspended
Solids
kg /tonne
of Iron
Produced
0.08
8.65
0.35
8.3
0.035

Ammonia
Nitrogen
kg /tonne
of Iron
Produced
0.0036
0.53
0.51
0.016
0.053

Cyanide
kg /tonne
of Iron
Produced
0.000015
0.0625
0.037
0.026
0.0038

Phenol
kg/ tonne
of Iron
Produced
0.000015
0.00085
0.00002
0.00065
0.00002

Iron
kg/ tonne
of Iron
Produced
0.0023
3.95
0.08
3.85
0.009


PH
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.5
8.3


     r\
     Data taken from "Pollution  Control  of  blast  furnace plant gas  scrubbers  through  recirculation",
     R.  E.  Touzalin,  Interlake Steel  Corp.  Rep.  Prepared For EPA Project  12010.

-------
                                                                        "A"
                                                                   BLASJ  FURNACE

                                                                         GAS
                               \
                           "B"
                      BLAST   FURNACE
                           GAS
                                                     CD
                                                     m
                                                     3
                                                     cc
                                                     o
                                                     CO
                                                               COOLER
                                                                   \
                                                    er
                                                    LJ
                                                    m
                                                    CD
                                                                O
                                           SLURRY
                                                      'SLURRY



s
w
AJ-1
RECYCLE
PUMPHOUSE
6._PJJMPS
ATER TO i WATER TO
BLAST FCE.I COOLING
SCRLBBER \ TOWER
& COOLERS!


,-•
                                                    JO'
                                                 CLARIF1ER
(TAKE;i  FRO,",
 MOi-.1 AND S
 FIGURE  '

.KRIKAU  AL
 HIST,,  .'
                             UKPER FLOW TO
                             30*" Ol.AR|F!ER      3INTER  PLANT

PROCESS '.-/ATER TREATMENT AND RECYCLE FOR BLAST FURNACE

R.R.DE CAIGNY,  SAN FRANCISCO REGIONAL KEETING OF THE AMER.

-------
is then added to the cold well  to  compensate for the blow down and other
process losses.  Finally, water from the cold well is recirculated to the
venturi scrubber and the gas cooler.   The process water recycle system can
be one of two types, viz., combined  venturi and gas cooling system or
segregated cascading system.

     The above discussion does  not include the waste waters that are used
for cooling various parts of the blast furnace such as the tuyers, bosh,
and hearth stoves.  These waters do  not pick up any chemical pollutants
or particulates, although their thermal load is increased.   Depending upon
the overall water problems of a given iron and steel plant the systems for
handling the cooling waters would  be using a once-through operation and
recirculating, cooling and appropriate water treatment,  with or without
provision for blow down into the gas-cleaning and gas-cooling systems.

     The treatment of process waters from gas-cleaning and gas-cooling
operations on a recirculating basis  consists of (a)  collecting the effluent
waters  (b) precipitating the suspended solids in a clarifier,  (c)  passage
of the  clarifier overflow  through cooling towers to reduce the heat  load,
(d) controlling the chemical stability of the process water stream by
blow-down and acid addition in  order to prevent scaling  and corrosion,  and
(e) recirculation of the treated water to gas-cleaning and gas-cooling
operations.  Besides, .polyelectrolytes, dispersants,  anti-scaling,  anti-
corrosion and anti-fouling chemicals are added to the recirculating water
systems at the appropriate stages.   The waste-treatment  methods of the
recirculating systems do not include removal of dissolved solids  such as
sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, iron,  carbonate, sulfate and the
contaminants such as ammonia, phenol, cyanide and control of pH.   The
prediction and control of the chemical stability of this system of
dissolved solids is a major problem  of the recycle operation.   This problem
is currently being managed through blow-down and make-up.

SCALING AND CORROSION PROBLEMS  AND THEIR CONTROL

     In blast furnace gas cleaning systems on recycle, the following  major
failures due to scaling have been  observed:   (a) plugging of spray nozzles,
 (b) deposits in venturi throats and  (c) closing of the supply pipes by
precipitated materials.  These  materials have been identified as being
mainly  calcium carbonate.  The  tendency of the system for calcium carbonate
scaling is currently being determined through the use of the Ryzner Stability
Index  (RSI) or the Langelier  Saturation Index (LSI).  In the LSI system,
a zero  index denotes that the system is in equilibrium with calcium carbonate.
A positive index indicates scaling tendencies and a negative index indicates
corrosive trends.  When Ryzner  stability index (RSI) is higher than 7.5
to 8.0  a corrosion condition  is indicated.  RSI values lower than 6 indicate
scaling tendency.  Values of  6  to  7  will indicate non-scaling and
non-corrosive conditions.  In view of the contribution of calcium and
alkalinity from the limestone in the flux, and the carry over of calcium
chloride, the potential for calcium  carbonate exists whenever the solubility
limits  are exceeded in the blast furnace gas cleaning recycle system.
The addition of sulfuric acid to control alkalinity may potentiate calcium
sulfate scaling.  The control of scaling and corrosion in the blast furnace

                                      21

-------
waste water  recycle system is  currently being managed by means of blow down
•and  addition of  acid and  thereby bringing  the Ryzner Stability Index
 (or  the Langelier Saturation Index)  to  the desired range.

      R&D efforts are warranted for  the  development of low-cost non-polluting
 scale-inhibitors that would inactivate  Ca, Mg and Fe through sequestration.
 By this means the quantity of  acid  added may be lessened and thus prevent
 corrosion conditions.

 STEEL MAKING PROCESS

      The three major methods currently  in  use in the USA for the production
 of steel are: the basic  oxygen furnace, the open hearth furnace and
 the electric arc furnace.  In  each  of these methods, the raw materials
 consist of hot metal (iron), scrap  steel,  limestone, burnt lime (CaO),
 fluorspar (CaF2) and dolomite  (MgC03 and CaCC>3).   Slag,  smoke, fume and
 waste gases are  the waste products.   In all the three methods pure oxygen
 and/or air is used to refine raw iron through the oxidation of the impuri-
 ties such as silicon, carbon,  phosphorus and magnanese.   Since all the
 three steel making processes commonly have two types of  waste waters,
 viz., non-contact cooling waters and the gas-scrubbing waters, we are
 presenting a detailed discussion of the EOF operation only.

      The basic oxygen furnace  is a  pear-shaped, refractory-lined open
 mouth construction.  The  furnace is supported on trunnions mounted in
 bearings and is  rotated for tapping of  steel ladles and  dumping of slag.
 The charge consists of a  mixture of pig iron (70%), scrap metal ('30%) and
 fluxes.  Oxygen  is injected into the furnace through copper-tipped steel
 lances to bring  about the oxidation of  impurities.  The  waste products of
 this process are heat, airborne fluxes, slag, carbon monoxide and dioxide
 gases and oxides of iron  emitted as submicron dust.  The waste water
 discharge sources of a EOF plant consists  of non-contact cooling water
 and the gas cleaning process water.   The non-contact cooling water is
 from the cooling of the hoods  and the lances.  It is not contaminated
 except for the heat load.  This can be  recirculated after being cooled
 and treated with inhibitors for corrosion  and bacterial  fouling.
 Alternately, it  can be utilized in  the  gas-cleaning system.  The gas cleaning
 process waters are derived from the quencher, the venturi scrubber and the
 wet precipitator units.

      The water treatment  of the EOF gas-cleaning recirculating waters
 consists of collecting the effluent water  in a thickener, removal of the
 suspended solids by gravity and through the addition of  polyelectrolyte and
 the recycle of the thickener overflow water back to the  gas-cleaning
 units.  Inhibitor compounds are added to the recirculating waters for
 controlling scaling, corrosion and  bacterial growth.  By means of a small
 blow down, the dissolved  solids content of the recirculating water system
 is controlled.

      The EOF waste water  system of  the  recirculating type is illustrated  by
 the  flow diagram (Figure  5) provided by one of the steel mills visited
 by us.   The system consists of two  process water loops and two indirect

                                      22

-------
K)
       P.  A.
       VENTURI
 QUENCHER
FEED TANK
             SERVICE
               MAKEUP
        VEMTURI
                         HOLDJN&
                          TANK
                          CD
              BLOWDOWN
       SLOWDOWN
                         -4-
            ^TREATMENT R.T.
                        UP
             SYSTEM MO- 3
                            COOLIMG
                            2 CEXLS
QUEMCHER
 POHPS
                                                      QUENCHER
                                                        (2)
QUENCHER
 SEAL
 TAWK
 (2)
                                                                   HEAD TANK
                                                                     (1)
                                                                 SYSTEM NO. 2
                              CLASSI-
                              FIES
                                                                         1
                              (3)
                                                             BUILDING .
                                                             FUMES IW
                SVSTEH HO.  1
                                                                         I
                                           THICKENER C2)
                                                                               BLOW
                                               W. A.
                                               VEWTUR1
                                               SCRUBBER
                                         TO
                                         R3R WSPOSSl.
                                                           SLUDGE
                                             [3UHJCE
                                             PUMPS**)
                                  VENTU8I
                                  WECVCLE
                                                                VENTURI  OR
                                                                SERVICE  WATER
                                                                MAKE UP
                                                                                                    SERVICE
                                              IBLOW&QWN
                       COLD MILL
                       PUMPS (3}
                    COOtJWfe
                      (21
                                                               LAWCE WATER
                                                               CHAK6ERS
                                                        FURMAC*
                                                         HOOOS
                                                      SYSTEM WO. 4
                                                                                     1
                                                                    LAXiCEBU)
                                                                                  PHJTBSS
                                      BOOSTER
                                       PUMPS
                                        (2)
                                                                   HOLDING
                                                                   TANK
                                    ZEALITE
                                    SOFTNER
                                   FIGURE 5,   WATER  FLOW DIAGRAM FOR  BOF SYSTEM
      (OBTAINED THROUGH THE  COURTESY OF  INLAND STEEL COMPANY'S WASTE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY)

-------
cooling water loops.  System number 1 is for cooling and scrubbing the gases
evolved from the steel making furnaces.  System number 2 is a scrubbing
loop for cleaning building fumes.  System number 3 and number 4 are for
non-contact cooling of the furnace hoods and lances.

SCALING, CORROSION, FOULING AND FOAMING

     The non-contact cooling waters of the recirculating type are treated
chemically for corrosion control.  The corrosion inhibitors are of a
proprietary nature.  However, it is gathered that non-chromate type of
inhibitors are in use.  One such class of compounds are the aminophosphonates,
which serve the dual role of scale and corrosion inhibition.  In the case
of the use of cooling towers, different biocides are being used for elimina-
ting biological growth. For scale prevention, nearly all the water treatment
companies appear to use aminophosphonates.

     As a result of our discussions with the water treatment companies,
it has been found that in a number of operations adopting the recirculating
systems, severe problems of chemical deposit (scale) formation and pluggage
at the return lines, venturi throats and the recycle lines from the venturi
to the quencher are not too uncommon.  The deposits have the compositions,
CaC03 - 50%, Fe-oxides - 35%, CaF2 - 5%.  This problem has been occurring
in spite of their present treatment practices.  The build up of total
dissolved solids, pH variations and finely divided suspended solids con-
tribute to this problem.  The current method of control of this problem
is through the control of the chemical stability of the system in
combination with the addition of scale inhibitors and dispersants.
However, since the  stability index method currently being used (as a
measure of the chemical stability of the waters) is based upon largely
calcium, and total  alkalinity, and does not take into account the chemical
interactions of iron and the surface charge neutralization of the finely
divided suspended solids, this method therefore may not be adequate and
effective.  Under conditions of Zero discharge, the problem of the
dissolved solids in the recirculating waters would be magnified considerably.
Hence R&D efforts directed toward solving this problem are necessary.

CONTINUOUS CASTING

     Billets, blooms, slabs and other shapes are cast by flowing hot steel
from teeming ladles into the continuous casting molds.  The casting molds
are water-cooled.   On being discharged from the mold, the cast product
is cooled in a spray chamber.  The product is then cut to desired length
in subsequent sections of the continuous casting mill.  The water systems
serving the continuous casting process consist of mold cooling, spraying
and machine cooling water systems.  For the mold and machine cooling,
closed recycle water systems are used, and the spray water system is an
open recycle system.  Mold cooling uses high purity water (zeolite-softened)
because of the requirement of the high heat transfer rates through the mold
wall.  The problems associated with the mold cooling water systems include
the formation of calcium carbonate scale, migratory corrosion products,
suspended solids, organics and biological fouling.  In Table 5 are illustra-
ted the various deposits encountered in the mold cooling system and their

                                     24

-------
nature and causes.

_ TABLE  5.  MOLD DEPOSITS WITH NATURE AND CAUSES*


                           CASE I            CASE II            CASE III
Silica as Si02, %
Iron as Fe203, %
Loss on Ignition, %
Phosphate as P^^, %
Calcium as CaO, %
Magnesium as MgO, %
Carbonate as COo, %
4
1
7
7
38
2
31
1
85
9
-
-
-
-
4
8
29
28
16
7
-
 Zinc as ZnO,  %

 Chromate as
 Case I - Calcium Carbonate Scale Poor Softener Operation (Closed System)

 Case II - Migratory Corrosion Products (Closed System)
 Case III - Severe Hydraulic Fluid Leaks (Open Recirculating Tower System)
 *
  Taken from D. J. Juvan, "Design of Critical System For Continuous Casters,"
  paper presented at the 1975 AIME-Natl. Open Hearth And Basic Oxygen Steel
  Conference, Toronto, Canada, April 1975.

      Current water treatment practices comprise (1) the softening of the
 influent water by means of ion exchange  (Zeolite softener operation) to
 bring the water hardness to less than 10 ppm (to prevent calcium carbonate
 scaling), (2) effective skimming of any oil and grease that infiltrate
 the recirculating system (3) installing filters and strainers in the system
 prior to the mold, (4) the use of corrosion inhibitors, such as the chromates,
 nitrites, phosphates and zinc-bearing compounds, and (5) the use of pro-
 prietary biocides for the control of biological growths.

      Under  the conditions of the 1983 guidelines, it would appear that
 the currently practised methods of water treatment might be largely
 sufficient  except that non-chromate type inhibitors should be substituted.
 Further, open cooling towers should preferably be eliminated from the
 recirculating water system so that atmospheric contamination, corrosion and
 fouling problems associated with them could be obviated.

      The spray water system gets contaminated most among the three systems.
 The contaminants include iron oxide scale, oil, grease and other foreign
 objects.  Because of the use of recirculating cooling tower systems,
 airborne contaminants, corrosion and biological fouling constitute the

                                      25

-------
additional contaminants.  As a result of these contaminants, the major
problem encountered in the spray water system is fouling and plugging of
spray nozzles.  The spray cooling recirculating system^  is schematically
illustrated in Figure 6.

     Various types of deposits which have been found to plug up the spray
nozzles and headers"  are illustrated in Table 6.

     The current practice for water treatment in the spray water recircula-
ting system consist of  (a) settling of the heavy solids and the iron
oxide scales, (b) skimming of the oil and grease (c) sedimentation of the
finely divided solids through the additions of polyelectrolytes or (d) high-
rate sand filters, (e) the addition of corrosion inhibitors and microbiocides
and  (f) installation of on-line filters.  These methods should be adequate
for the treatment of recirculating systems under the zero discharge
conditions required by the 1983 EPA guidelines.  However, the use of
non-chromate type of corrosion inhibitors and non-polluting dispersants
for the avoidance of the "nozzle-plugging" problem should be instituted.

     The machine cooling water system services several pieces of
equipment.  It also cools the mold water through a heat exchanger.  In the
recirculating system for the machine cooling waters, open cooling towers
are often installed in the circuit**  as illustrated in Figure 7.  The
contaminants picked up by this water system are similar to those of the
spray water system.  High quality water is required for this system in
view of its heat exchanger use.  The current treatment methods include
sedimentation of any suspended solids, installation of filters in the circuit
and the addition of corrosion inhibitors, deposit control agents and
microbiocides.  Excepting for the use of non-chromate inhibitors, the
present methods should be effective and compatible under the zero discharge
condition of the 1983 guidelines.

HOT MILLS

     In all integrated steel mills, steel slabs are put through a hot-
strip rolling process.  In this process the slab, sheet, bloom billet or
bar is being oxidized, cooled and washed with a high pressure water spray.
The layer of iron oxide (mill scale) formed on the entire surface of the
steel, as it is being rolled, is broken away from the steel.  It then
falls through the roll  tables into the flume or sewer through which high
velocity water is flowing.  Large amounts of lubrication greases and oils
from the rolling machinery as well as other mill debris find their way
into the flume.  The principal contaminants in the effluents from the hot
mills are mill scale, oil and grease.  The quantity of scale produced is
estimated at about 3% of the output of the mill.  The volume of water
used in the hot forming operation, the nature and quantities of the mill
scale in the waste waters varies widely with different steel mills.
  D. J. Juvan, "Design of Critical System for Continuous Casters", paper
  presented at the 1975 AIME-National Open Hearth And Basic Oxygen Steel
  Conference, Toronto, Canada, April 1975.

                                     26

-------
            f
MAKE-UP
         \
         \SPRAY/
         \TOWER/
                                                SPRAY WATER
                                                  FILTERS
         ^_n—	1

         y STAINLESS STEEL
         ~ / SPRAY HEADERS
           /     & PIPING
         \r
          FLUME
                            SEDIMENTATION
                                BASIN
                    SCALE
                      PIT
                                              STORAGE
                                               TANK
   MACHINE WATER

   MOLD STORAGE
  TANK OVERFLOW
                                OIL
                              SKIMMER
                                               OVERFLOW
                                                 WEIR
        FIGURE 6,  SPRAY-COOLING RECIRCULATING SYSTEM
Society of AIME)
                               27

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to
oo
                                              __ /MOLD HEAT
                                                ^EXCHANGER
r                                                                  FURNACE

                                                                  COOLING
     FIGURE  7,   TREATMENT AND RECIRCULATION SYSTEM FOR MACHINE  COOLING WATERS

     [TAKEN  FROM,,  "DESIGN OF CRITICAL SYSTEM FOR CONTINUOUS  CASTERS",  BY D,J, JUVAN,
      1975 AIME-NATL,  OPEN HEARTH AND BASIC OXYGEN STEEL  CONFERENCE,  TORONTO, CANADA,]
      (Iron and Steel Society of AIME)

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    TABLE  6.   TYPES OF DEPOSITS THAT CAN PLUG SPRAY NOZZLES AND HEADERS*
Constituent, %
Silica, Si02
Aluminum, A120»
Iron, Fe
Loss on Ignition
Phosphate, P2°s
Magnesium, MgO
Zinc, ZnO
Sulfate, SO™
Calcium, CaO
Carbonate, C09
CASE I
1
-
79
4
1
1
2
-
7
5
CAl II
3
1
68
19
-
-
4
3
1
1
CASE III
8
5
13
65
2
1
4
-
2
_
Case I - Corrosion of System Piping and Headers

Case II - Unsatisfactory Oil and Scale Removal

Case III - Biological Fouling (30-40% Bacterial Slime)
 Taken from "Design of Critical Systems For Continuous Casters",
 by D. J.  Juvan, 1975 AIME Natl. Open Hearth and Basic Oxygen Steel
 conference, Toronto, Canada.
                                     29

-------
11000 - 38000 liters of water per tonne of steel rolled might be applied
in this operation.9-12

     The hot mill operation generate two types of waste waters, viz.,
waters from the furnace cooling and process waters from the hot rolling
operations.  The furnace cooling waters do not get contaminated except
for heat load.  Depending upon the water problems of the individual steel
mills, the furnace cooling water can be cooled, treated for corrosion
inhibition and recirculated; or else blown down into the recirculating
process waters of the hot rolling operations.

     The treatment of the process waste waters from the hot mill operations
briefly consists of (1) collecting the waste waters in a scale pit,
(2) removing the scales by gravity settling, (3) removal of the oil by
means of an oil skimmer, (4) removal of the finely divided scales, suspended
solids and oil by using a deep-bed sand filter (5) passage of the treated
water through cooling tower to reduce the thermal load and (6) recirculate
the water to the hot-strip mill after a small blow down in order to control
the dissolved solids content of the recirculating water.

     The chemical additives to the recirculating water system consist
of (1) polyelectrolyte feed to flocculate the finely divided scales and
other suspended particulates (2) acid and other descaling compounds to
control the chemical stability of the water (Ryzner Stability Index) and
(3) chemicals for controlling bacterial growth and foaming.

PROBLEMS OF SCALING, CORROSION AND FOULING

     On the basis of a review of the published data and discussions with
the environmental control personnel of the steel mills that we visited,
it appears that no serious corrosion problems are encountered under the
recirculating conditions of operation at present.  The formation of deposits
and chemical scales is a problem which is being controlled through the
addition of scale inhibitors and dispersing compounds recommended by the
water treatment companies.  Under zero discharge conditions of the 1983 EPA
effluent guidelines, it is expected that the problem of chemical scale
formation might be more severe due to potentially increased dissolved
solids and finely divided suspended solids content of the recirculating
waters and the lack of automatic monitoring and control of the chemical
stability of the waters.  R&D efforts directed toward the development of
an effective method for chemical stability of aqueous systems should be
undertaken.
  9
  J. P. Gravenstreter and R. J. Sanday, Iron and Steel Engineer, 46, 85
  (1969).

  C. Browman, Blast Furnace Steel Plant, 59, 19 (1971).

  K. S. Patton, Iron and Steel Engr., 48, 98 (1971).

  Tl. Nebolsine, Iron and Steel Engr., 48, 85 (1971)\

                                     30

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PICKLING WAC; ; WATERS

     Since a large percent of  the  steel products  produced in an integrated
steel mill undergo acid pickling for removing  the scale,  the problem of
handling the spent pickle liquor and the  rinse water,  their treatment for
re-use or safe disposal is of  great importance.   Either  sulfuric or
hydrochloric acid is used in the acid baths.   The waste  waters from the
pickling operation consist of  spent pickle  liquor, acid  rinse water and  fume
scrubber water.  From published data, it  is known that the spent pickle
liquor contains 6-12% iron, 1-11%  free acid, traces of heavy metals, oil
and suspended solids-'-.  Several methods are currently  being practiced by
the steel industry for handling this waste, i.e.,  (1)  regenerating the
acid  (HCl or I^SCfy) and recycling  it to pickling  operations, (2) deep well
injection,  (3) use as a source of  iron and  iron compounds (4) use for
removal of phosphate from municipal sewage  plants  and  (5) precipitating
the iron through neutralization followed  by removal of the precipitate
and discharging the clarified  effluent into rivers and streams.   The
feasibility of a closed loop system for the treatment  of the waste pickle
liquor was  recently reported.13  The closed-loop  system  consists of (a)  a low
temperature crystallization of FeSC>4"7H20 from sulfuric  acid waste liquor,
 (b) ion exchange adsorption of the ferrous  iron from the ferrous sulfate,
 (c) oxidation of the ferrous to the ferric  iron,  (d) stripping the adsorbed
iron  from the ion exchange by  HN03, (e) hydrolysis of  the Ferric nitrate
to Fe2C>3 and HN03 and  (f) recovery and recycle of  the  HN03 back to the ion
exchange unit.  The sulfuric acid  recovered from  the crystallizer is recycled
back  to the pickling operation.

      The rinse water wastes generated by  acid  pickling are neutralized
with  lime,  allowed to  settle and the effluent  discharged into rivers and
 streams.  The gummy sludge produced is disposed at remote land areas or
 into  deep  sea.  All these methods  of handling  the pickle rinse water cause
 some  degree of  environmental  problem.  Nippon  Steel Corporation of Japanl^
 recently  has developed a recirculating ion  exchange method for the treatment
 of acid-rinse water generated  in the pickling  process.

      Fume scrubber water  system absorbs  the corrosive  mist and vapors given
 off from the surface  of the  acid-pickling baths.   Water  from this system
 is combined with spent acid-rinse  wastes  and treated for acid removal and
 recycling.

      Neither the published  literature nor discussions  with the environmental
 control personnel of  the  different steel  mills which we  visited have
 brought out any problems  of  scaling or fouling.   However, in view of the
 strongly acidic nature of  the waste waters, several corrosion problems are
  D. Kwasnowski, International Metallurgical Reviews,  JZO,  137-145 (1975).
 13
   J. C. Peterson, EPA Report No.  EPA-600/2-77-127,  (1977);  NTIS-PB-270-090.
 14
   "The Kimitsu Ion Exchange System for pickle rinse water treatment",  by
   Nippon Steel Corporation, 1975.

                                     31

-------
expected in the supply lines and in the process equipment.  This problem
can be controlled by appropriate surface treatments of the materials of
construction and through the addition of suitable corrosion inhibitors.

     In conforming to the 1983 EPA effluent guidelines, it is felt that
the existing technology can adequately handle the controlling of the
potential problems of corrosion and fouling.

COLD ROLLING

     Since the cold rolling operations consist of removing the rust preventive
oil coating from the steel strips and processing them in the presence of lu-
bricants consisting of oil and water, the waste waters generated in this
process contain both floating and emulsified oils, detergents, cleaning
chemicals, mill scale and other suspended solids.  The current waste
treatment practices consist of (1) skimming the floating oil, (2) filtration
through a multilayer sand and gravel filter to remove suspended solids
and emulsified oil and (3) further removal of oil in a thickener. •*• •>
Alternately, the waste waters are subjected to aeration and the floating
oils are skimmed.  The emulsified oils left in the waters are treated with
acid together with ferric or aluminum sulfate (or chloride) to split the
emulsion into oily and aqueous layers.  After removing the oil, the pH of
the system is raised to precipitate the iron (or aluminum), allowed to settle
and filtered.  The treated effluent is either sent to terminal treatment
facility or discharged into the plant outfalls.  The solid residue is
disposed at distant land sites or into deep ocean.  A schematic of the
treatment of the cold-rolling waste waters taken from the published
literature-*- is shown in Figure 8.

     On the basis of the published data, it would appear that chemical
scaling and corrosion might not be problems of critical concern in the
currently practised methods.  Biological fouling and foaming are encountered
and the currently practised technology is adequate for their control.
However, under conditions of zero discharge in accordance with the 1983
effluent guidelines, the recirculating system would show considerable
build-up of dissolved solids and finely divided solids (chemically pre-
cipitated material) and oil and grease which in turn could be expected to
result in deposit formation and pluggage.  Further, finely divided solids
from bacterial growth could present a problem in a recirculating system
under zero discharge conditions.  In the event of recycling the treated
effluents, control of the chemical stability of the effluent waters and
addition of dispersants and scale inhibitors should be considered.
15
v C. R. Seymons and J. Water, J. Water Pollution Control Federation,
  43_, 2280  (1971).

1D. Kwasnowski, International Metallurgical Reviews, 20, 137-145  (1975).
                                     32

-------
CO
        oily
        waste -
waters
(oil,
solids)
                 skimmed
                   oil
 mill
sump
solids-liquid
  separator
                            sludge   i >
                                treated
                                effluent
                                                       backwash
                                                       water
                                           deep-
                                           bed
                                           filters
                                                  backwash
                                                    sludge
       FIGURE  8,  TREATMENT OF  WASTE WATERS OF COLD-ROLLING OPERATIONS
       [TAKEN  FROM "WATER POLLUTION CONTROL IN AN  INTEGRATED STEEL  PLANT"
        BY D,  KWASNOWSKI, INTL, METALURGY, REV,, 2CL 137-145 (1975)]

-------
METAL COATING OPERATIONS

     The metal coating operations include hot galvanizing, lead-tin alloy
coating and, electrolytic plating of tin and chromium.  The waste streams
from these operations contain zinc, tin, fluorides, chromates, cyanides,
acids and alkalis.  Currently practised waste treatment methods consist of
precipitation of the metals as their hydroxides, precipitation of the
fluorides as the calcium fluoride and destruction of the cyanides by an
alkaline chlorination method or alternately by biological oxidation methods.
Ion exchange methods are also applied for the recovery of chromium from
the waste waters^>2.  Recently an innovative rinse-and-recovery system for
metal finishing processes has been developed which consists of a two stage
solvent spray rinse followed by a single stage aqueous immersion rinse
with no plating solution exits to the sewer*".  Although severe corrosion
and scaling problems may not be encountered, the toxicity of the treated
effluents is of great concern.  Chromium, lead, zinc and cyanide are among
the toxic components.  Methods for their automatic (on-line) determination
and control should be instituted into the recirculating system.
 D. Kwasnowski, International Metallurgical Reviews, 20, 137-145 (1975),

2R. Nebolsine, Iron and Steel Engineer, 44, 122-135 (1967).

  W. C. Trnka and C. J. Novotny, EPA Report No. 600/2-77-099 (1977).
                                     34

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                                 REFERENCES
 1.  Kwasnowski,  D.   International Metallurgical Reviews, 20, 137-145 (1975).

 2.  Nebolsine, R.   Iron and Steel Engineer, 44, 122-135 (1967).

 3.  "Development Document for Effluent limitation guidelines and New
    Source  Performance Standards for the Steel Making Segment of the Iron
    and  Steel Manufacturing Point Source Category"; EPA-440/l-74-024-a.

 4.  Schroeder, J.  W.,  and A. C. Naso, Iron and Steel Engineer, 1976,
    p. 60-66.

 5.  Wong-Chong,  G.  M., S. C. Caruso and T. G. Patarlis. Carnegie-Mellon
    Institute Report entitled, "An Evaluation of EPA recommended technology
    for  the treatment and control of waste waters from by-product coke-
    plants  - Alternate 2.

 6.  Touzalin, R. E.  "Pollution Control of blast furnace plant gas scrubbers
    through recirculation", Interlake Steel Corporation's report prepared
    for  U.S. EPA,  Project 12010.

 7.  Rrikau, Fred G., and Roger R. DeCaigny. San Francisco Regional
    Technical Meeting of the Amer. Iron and Steel Inst., 1970.

 8.  Juvan,  D. J.  "Design of Critical System for Continuous Casters",
    paper presented at the 1975 AIME-National Open Hearth And Basic
     Oxygen  Steel Conference, Toronto, Canada, April 1975.

 9.  Gravenstreter, J.  P., and R. J. Sanday. Iron and Steel Engineer,
    46_,  85  (1969).

10.  Browman, C.   Blast Furnace Steel Plant, 59, 19 (1971).

11.  Patton, R.  S.   Iron and Steel Engr,, 48., 98 (1971).

12.  Nebolsine,  R.   Iron and Steel Engr., 48. 85 (1971).

13.  Peterson, J. C.  EPA Report No. EPA-600/2-77-127,  (1977); NTIS-PB-
    270-090.

14.  "The Kimitsu Ion Exchange System for pickle rinse water treatment",
    by Nippon  Steel Corporation, 1975.
                                     35

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15.   Seymons, C. R.,  and J. Water.  J. Water Pollution Control Federation,
     43, 2280 (1971).

16.   Trnka, W. C., and C. J. Novotny.  EPA Report No.  600/2-77-099  (1977),
                                    36

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                                BIBLIOGRAPHY


 1.  Wong-Cheng,  G.  M.,  and S. C. Caruso.  Carnegie-Mellon Report entitled,
    "An  evaluation of  the treatment and control technology recommended
    by EPA for  the blast furnace (iron) waste water",  Aug. 1976.
                                       s

 2.  Steiner,  B.  A., and R. J. Thompson. Jl. Air Pollution Control
    Association, 27 (11) 1069-75 (1977).

 3.  Martin,  J.  R.   Steel Times Annual Review, 1975, p. 678-682.

 4.  Myatt, R.  T.,  R. J. Aston and K. S. Johnson.  Iron and Steel
    International,  4£,  421-424 (1973).

 5.  Anon.  "BOF facility and combination mill in full operation at
    Bethlehem",  Iron and Steel Engineer, Aug. 1969, p. 88-94.

 6.  Plumer,  F.  J.   Iron and Steel Engr., 46, 124-132 (1969).

 7.  Wallace,  DeYarman.   Iron and Steel Engr., 47, 83-87 (1970).

 8.  Bell,  J.  P,   Industrial Wastes, 1976, p. 20-22.

 9.  Harris,  E.  R., and F. R. Beiser.  Jl. Air Poll. Control Assoc., 1965,
    46-49.

10.  Hodsden,  J.  B., and W. L. Vankley.  Iron and Steel Engr.,  51,
    49-53 (1974).

11.  Corey, B.  M.,  and A. C. Elliot.  Iron and Steel Engr., 51, 81-87 (1974).

12.  Smith, D.  W.  Jl.  Water Poll. Control Federation, 48_ (6)  1287-93 (1976).

13.  Temmel,  F.  M.   Am.  Iron and Steel Inst., Regional Meeting at
    San Francisco, 1971, p. 343-362.

14.  Theegarten,  H. F.,  and R. K. Von Hartman.   Iron and Steel Engr.,
    50,  67-74 (1973).

15.  Anon.   Iron and Steel, Spl. Issue 1972, p.  150-159.

16.  Cook,  Y.  W.   Iron and Steel International,  1974, p. 393-402.


                                     37

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17.   Nebolsine, R.,  I.  Pouschine.  Iron and Steel Engr., 49, 89-91 (1972).

18.   "Integrated Steel Plant Pollution Study For Zero Water And Minimum
     Air Discharge", Hydrotechnic Corporation Report to EPA, Contract
     No. 68022626.

19.   "Development Document For Interim Final Effluent Limitations guidelines
     And Proposed Hew Source Performance Standards For the FORMING,
     FINISHING AND SPECIALITY STEEL Segments of the IRON and STEEL MAKING
     INDUSTRY", Volume II; EPA Report No. 440/1-76/048-b Group 1,
     Phase II  (March 1976).

20.   Nelson, R. E.,  and D. L. Bunn, Amer. Iron and Steel Inst. Regional
     Tech. Meeting,  San Francisco, 1973.
                                    38

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                                                      APPENDIX A
                    EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS GUIDELINES OF U.S. EPA SET ON THE BASIS OF BPCTCA AND BATEA
                                                            BPCTCA

                                                       kg/kkg product
     BATEA

kg/kkg product
u>
MS


Subcategory
Coke-oven
(By-product recovery
process)



Beehive-oven Process
Sinter Plant




Blast Furnace
(iron)







Pollutant Parameter For
Cyanide
Phenol
Ammonia
Oil and Grease
Suspended Solids
Sulfide
No discharge of process
Suspended Solids
Oil and Grease
Sulfide
Fluoride
PH
Suspended Solids
Cyanide
Phenol
Ammonia
Sulfide
Fluoride
pH

Maximum
Any One
0.0657
0.0045
0.2736
0.0327
0.1095

Daily

Average over Maximum
Day 30 days
0.0219
0.0015
0.0912
0.0109
0.0365

waste water pollutants to
0.0312
0.0063



0.0780
0.0234
0.0063
0.1953



0.0104
0.0021


6.0 to 9.
0.0260
0.0078
0.0021
0.0651


6.0 to 9.
For Any One Day
0.0003
0.0006
0.0126
0.0126
0.0312
0.0003
navigable waters
0.0156
0.0063
0.00018
0.0126
0
0.0390
0.0004
0.0008
0.0156
0.0005
0.0312
0
Daily
Average over
30 days
0.0001
0.0042
0.0042
0.0042
0.0104
0.0001

0.0052
0.0021
0.00006
0.0042

0.0130
0.00013
0.00026
0.0052
0.00016
0.0104


-------
•p-
o
                                                 APPENDIX A (cont.)

                 EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS GUIDELINES OF U.S. EPA SET ON THE BASIS OF BPCTCA AND BATEA




Subcategory
Blast Furnace
(Ferromanganese)




s
Basic oxygen
Furnace
(semi-wet air
pollution methods)




Pollutant Parameter
Suspended Solids
Cyanide
Phenol
Ammonia
Sulfide
Manganese
PH
Suspended Solids
Fluoride
PH

BTCTCA
kg/kkg product
Daily
Maximum Average over
For Any One Day 30 days
0.3129 0.1043
0.4689 0.1563
0.0624 0.0208
1.5636 0.5212


6.0 to 9.0
No discharge of process
pollutants to navigable


BATEA
kg/kkg

Maximum
product
Daily
Average over
For Any One Day 30 days
0.0780
0.0008
0.0016
0.0312
0.0009
0.0156

waste water
waters.


0.0206
0.00026
0.00052
0.0003
0.0052
0.0052





     Basic oxygen
      Furnace
     (Wet Air Pollution
      control methods)

     Open Hearth
Suspended Solids
Fluoride
  PH
Suspended Solids
Fluoride
Nitrate (N0_)
Zinc
  PH
     Electric Arc Furnace  Suspended Solids
     (Semi-wet air         Zinc
     pollution control)    Fluoride
                             PH
0.0312
0.0104
      6.0 to 9.0
0.0156         0.0052
0.0126         0.0042
       6.0 to 9.0
0.0312
0.104
0.0156
0.0126
0.0282
0.0030
0.0052
0.0042
0.0094
0.0010
                                                           6.0 to 9.0
                                      6.0 to 9.0
                          No discharge of process waste water
                          pollutants to navigable waters

-------
                                          APPENDIX A (coiit.)

           EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS GUIDELINES OF U.S.  EPA SET ON THE BASIS OF BPCTCA AND BATEA




Subcategory
Electric Arc Furnace
(Wet Air Pollution
Control methods)

Vacuum Degssing





Continuous Casting


^



Pollutant Parameter
Suspended Solids
Fluoride
Zinc
PH
Suspended Solids
Zinc
Manganese
Lead
Nitrate (as N0_)
PH
Suspended Solids
Oil and Grease
PH
BTCTCA
kg/kkg product
Daily
Maximum Average over
For Any One Day 30 days
0.0312 0.0104


6.0 to 9.0
0.0156 0.0052




6.0 to 9.0
0.0780 0.0260
0.0234 0.0078
6.0 to 9.0
BATEA

kg/kkg product

Maximum
For Any One Day
0.0156
0.0126
0.0030
6.0 to
0.0078
0.0015
0.0015
0.00015
0.0141
6.0 to 9
0.0156
0.0156
6.0 to 9
Daily
Average over
30 days
0.0052
0.0042
0.0010
9.0
0.0026
0.0005
0.0005
0.00005
0.0047
.0
0.0052
0.0052
.0
Taken from "Development of Effluent Limitation guidelines and New Source Performance Standards For The
Steel Making Segment of the Iron and Steel Manufacturing Point Source Category",  EPA-440/1-74-024-1)

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                                 APPENDIX B
     In connection with the development of information of the current
waste-treatment practices of the iron and steel industry, a number of
integrated steel mills and water treatment companies were visited.  Also a
number of environmental engineers and specialists were consulted in this area.
Following is a list of the contacts made in connection with this work.

     The steel companies and the personnel visited are as follows:

     (i)  Inland Steel Co.
          East Chicago Indiana
          Mr. John Brough
          Director of Air and Water Control

    (ii)  Interlake Steel Corp.
          Chicago, Illinois                                      >
          Mr. Fred Krikau
          Director, Environmental Control

   (iii)  U.S. Steel Gary Works
          Gary, Indiana
          Mr. J. H. Dickerson
          Supdt. of Environmental Control

    (iv)  Armco Steel Corp.
          Middletown, Ohio
          Mr. Donald R. Perander
          Environmental Engineering

     (v)  Kaiser Steel Corp.
          Fontana, California
          Mr. R. E. Garner
          Asst. to Works Manager

     Chemical Companies and Personnel Visited:

     (i)  Nalco Chemical Co.
          Oakbrook, Illinois
          Mr. Alex J. Bajusz
          Industry Manager for Steel and Primary Metals
                                     42

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 (ii)   Betz Laboratories
       Lansing,  Illinois
       Mr.  Richard Stone
       Area Manager for Steel Industry

(iii)   Calgon Corp.
       Pittsburgh, Pa.
       Mr.  George Peabody
       Market Manager, Water Managment

       Mr.  L. J. Persinski
       Manager,  Industrial Water Treatment Research

  Other Groups;

  (i)   Chester Engineers,
       Environmental Engineers & Planners
       Coraopolis, Pa.
       Mr.  Walter Zabban
       Industrail Waste Consultant

 (ii)   Hydrotechnic Corp.
       New York, NY
       Mr.  H. J. Kohllman
       Vice President,
       Engineering Manager

 (iii)   Prof. George St. Pierre,
       Department of Metallurgy
       Ohio State University
       Columbus, Ohio

 (iv)   Prof. J. Patterson
       Environmental Engineering
       Illinois Institute of Technology
       Chicago, Illinois

  (v)   American Iron and Steel Institute
       Task Force Committee headed by
       Mr. William Benzer at Pittsburgh, Pa.
                                  43

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                                TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
                         (Please read Instructions on the reverse before completing)
 . REPORT NO.
 EPA-600/2-79-024
                          2.
           3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION-NO.
». TITLE AND SUBTITLE
Survey of Fouling, Foam, Corrosion, and Scaling
   Control in Iron and Steel Industry Recycle Systems
                                                     6. REPORT DATE
                                                      January 1979
                                                     6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7. AUTHOR(S)
K.S. Rajan
                                                     8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
TJT Research Institute
10 West 35th Street
Chicago, Illinois  60616
                                                     10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
                                                     1BB610
                                                     11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.

                                                       8-02-2617, Task 2-2
 12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
 EPA, Office of Research and Development
 Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory
 Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
                                                     13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
                                                     Task Final; 8/77 - 1/78
                                                     14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
                                                       EPA/600/13
is. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
62, 919/541-2733.
                              project officer is John S.  Ruppersberger, Mail Drop
 is. ABSTRACT The report gives results of & review of the state-of-the-art for fouling,
 foaming, corrosion, and scaling control in the treatment and recycle of process
 waters of integrated iron and steel mills. Areas examined were: (1) the character
 of the wastewaters generated in the different processes associated with iron and
 steel making, (2) current treatment practices of the recirculating systems, and (3)
 corrosion, scaling, fouling,"and foaming problems encountered in the treatment
 processes and current methods for solving them.  Much of the iron and steel industry
 wastewater is derived from noncontact cooling and scrubbing operations. Present
 technology appears adequate for treatment and control of the noncontact cooling
 waters. Treatment of the scrubber waters, which are highly contaminated with sus-
 pended and dissolved solids and a variety of pollutants, consists of removing the
 suspended solids and heat loads, decreasing the dissolved solid content by blowdown,
 and recycling the process water. Chemical scales and deposits constitute a major
 problem, and are minimized by controlling the  chemical stability of the recircuiating
 waters through acid addition and blowdown. Research and development recommended
 for process water treatment under a high degree of recycle  include  effective scale
 inhibition and control, and automatic process water chemical stability monitoring.
17.
                             KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
                DESCRIPTORS
                                          b.IDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
                                                                  c. COSATI Field/Group
 Pollution
                     Scaling
 Iron and Steel Industry
 Waste Water
 Circulation
 Foaming
 Corrosion
                     Cooling Water
Pollution Control
Stationary Sources
Recycling
Scrubbing Water
13B
11F
                                                                  13H,07A
                                                                  11C
           13A
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT

 Unlimited
                                          19. SECURITY CLASS (ThisReport)
                                          Unclassified
                         21. NO. OF PAGES
                               48
                                          20. SECURITY CLASS (Thispage)
                                          Unclassified
                        22. PRICE
EPA Form 2220-1 (9-73)
                                        44

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