Method for removing elemental phosphorus from iron oxide-containing and phosphate-containing substances

A method for separating elemental phosphorus from iron oxide-containing and phosphate-containing material, comprising:

• providing at least one iron oxide- and phosphate-containing material;
• adding at least one aluminum carrier to the at least one iron oxide- and phosphate-containing material and melting the at least one aluminum carrier together with the at least one iron oxide- and phosphate-containing material to form an aluminum-containing phosphate slag melt;
• reacting the aluminum-containing phosphate slag melt to elemental gaseous phosphorus, iron and an Al2O3-containing slag in a melting vessel;
• drawing off elemental, gaseous phosphorus and tapping off the iron and the Al2O3-containing slag;
• wherein a tin bath is arranged as a cathode body in the melting vessel under the aluminum-containing phosphate slag melt and at least one anode body is arranged to be immersed in the aluminum-containing phosphate slag melt and one of:
• a direct current is applied to the cathode body and the at least one anode body;
• and
• a direct current is taken from the cathode body and from the at least one anode body.

A device for separating elemental phosphorus from iron oxide-containing and phosphate-containing material, comprising:

• a melting vessel formed by a refractory-lined housing;
• a phosphate slag melt containing aluminum arranged in the melting vessel;
• a gas chamber closed off by the refractory-lined housing above the phosphate slag melt, and a feed device for iron oxide- and phosphate-containing substances and at least one extraction device for gaseous, elemental phosphorus;
• a cathode body arranged below the aluminum-containing phosphate slag melt;
• and
• at least one anode body immersed in the aluminum-containing phosphate slag melt;
• wherein the aluminum-containing phosphate slag melt is formed by adding at least one aluminum carrier to the at least one iron oxide- and phosphate-containing material and melting the at least one aluminum carrier together with the at least one iron oxide- and phosphate-containing material;
• and
• wherein the device is further configured to:
• react the aluminum-containing phosphate slag melt to elemental gaseous phosphorus, iron and an Al2O3-containing slag in a melting vessel;
• draw off elemental, gaseous phosphorus and tapping off the iron and the Al2O3-containing slag;
• and
• one of:
• apply a direct current to the cathode body and the at least one anode body;
• and
• take a direct current from the cathode body and from the at least one anode body.