Method for producing slag having a desired quality

A method for generating slag of desired characteristics in the production of pig iron, with steps as follows:

• a) heating iron oxide in a direct reduction plant, so that with a reducing agent present a majority of the iron oxide is reduced to iron and an iron-containing intermediate is formed;
• b) heating the iron-containing intermediate in a reactor arrangement, to give pig iron and the slag;
• c) analyzing, via an analysis unit, the iron-containing intermediate and/or the slag which deposits during the further heating of the iron-containing intermediate;
• at least one of:
• d1) determining a property of an additive to be added to the iron-containing intermediate during the heating, depending on the analysis, in order to alter the composition of the slag, and adding the additive during the heating, to give the slag of the desired characteristics;
• and/or
• d2) recognizing that the slag requires a thermal treatment to give the slag having the desired characteristics, and initiating the thermal treatment.