Method and apparatus for recovering metal values from liquid slag an baghouse dust of an electric arc furnace

A method for processing liquid slag and baghouse dust generated by a steelmaking furnace to recover valuable metals utilizing an apparatus having a lower shell and an upper shell, said method comprising:

• introducing liquid slag from said furnace to a lower shell portion;
• introducing sand to said liquid slag;
• positioning said lower shell portion underneath said upper shell portion;
• coupling said lower shell portion to said upper shell portion to form a chamber;
• simultaneously adding a source of carbon to the liquid slag, adding baghouse dust to the liquid slag, and heating the liquid slag, and forming a molten metal layer in said lower shell portion with a slag layer thereon;
• exhausting gases from the chamber, said gases containing carbon monoxide, reduced lead vapor, and reduced zinc;
• decoupling said lower shell portion from said upper shell portion;
• and,
• tapping the lower shell portion, thereby removing the slag from the molten metal layer in the lower shell portion.