Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
bb4b0d4f-0fa2-4b3e-b5fe-b34bfe53990e
Materials
Associated ID
4bed9b19-e257-4238-b1df-1a8cc6b7799e
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
This process refers to the production activity of producing 1 kg of micro-carbon ferrochrome by the electro-silicothermic process. Micro-carbon ferrochrome is a chromium-bearing ferroalloy with a carbon content of ≤0.15%, mainly used for producing stainless steel, acid-resistant steel, and heat-resistant steel, and added as an alloying element or deoxidizer in steelmaking. The dataset includes raw and auxiliary materials such as chrome ore, high-carbon ferrochrome, silicon-chromium alloy, and lime, and energy inputs such as electricity; the outputs include the product micro-carbon ferrochrome, the wastes dust-collection ash and smelting slag (which can be recovered and comprehensively utilized), as well as emissions to the atmosphere and water bodies. Infrastructure such as the manufacturing of production equipment and the construction of plants is not included within the dataset boundary. The data inventory is formed by merging data from multiple sources, and the data representativeness is optimized using industry standards such as the 3140 Ferroalloy Industry Coefficient Handbook.
Activity Description
The electric-silicon-thermal process for producing micro-carbon ferrochrome is a method in which chromium ore, lime, and silicochromium alloy are charged into an electric arc furnace for smelting and refining of ferrochromium. The thermal energy required during the smelting process is derived from electric heating and the exothermic oxidation of silicon. The production operations for this product include raw material supply, smelting, finished product processing, dust collection system, and other auxiliary operations.
Process Description
Microcarbon ferrochrome is a chromium-containing ferroalloy made from chrome ore, lime, etc. through electric furnace smelting. The carbon content is ≤0.15%. It is mainly used to produce stainless steel, acid-resistant steel and heat-resistant steel, and is used as an alloying element additive or deoxidizer for steelmaking.
Time period
2015
2026
Geography
China
Macroeconomic value
Business-as-Usual
Data validation
Yes
Technology
Current Technology
Technology comment
The reducing agent used in the production of refined ferroalloys by the electrosilicothermic method is silicon alloy, and the heat energy required for smelting comes from silicothermic reaction and electrical energy. During the silicothermic reduction process, the order in which chromium oxides are reduced by silicon is: Cr2O3-CrO-Cr.