Desulfurization puck

A method for removing oxygen, sulfur, or mixtures thereof from molten iron comprising:

• (a) obtaining reclaimed ferrous scrap metal coated with oil,
• wherein said ferrous metal includes carbon steel, stainless steel, or mixtures thereof;
• (b) obtaining reclaimed deoxidizing/desulfurizing scrap metal coated with oil,
• wherein said deoxidizing/desulfurizing scrap metal is magnesium metal, plus at least one metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, and zirconium, and
• wherein said magnesium metal is at least 5 weight percent of said deoxidizing/desulfurizing scrap metal;
• (c) combining and pressing said reclaimed ferrous scrap metal coated with oil and said reclaimed deoxidizing/desulfurizing scrap metal coated with oil to form a plurality of pucks or plurality of briquettes,
• wherein the pressing removes at least some of the oil coating on the ferrous scrap metal and deoxidizing/desulfurizing scrap metal,
• wherein the plurality of pucks or plurality of briquettes is characterized as follows:
• average density of about 6.9-7.8 g/cm3,
• average weight of at least about 2 lbs.,
• said ferrous scrap metal is over 80 weight percent of each puck or briquette,
• said deoxidizing/desulfurizing scrap metal is at least about 2 weight percent of said puck or briquette, wherein a weight ratio of said ferrous scrap metal to said deoxidizing/desulfurizing scrap metal is about 6-20:1, and
• said oil is 0.01 to about 5 weight percent of each puck or briquette;
• (b) placing said plurality of pucks or briquettes into an iron trough or ladle;
• (c) pouring molten iron into said iron trough or ladle after said plurality of pucks or briquettes were placed into an iron trough or ladle, such that said plurality of pucks or briquettes do not float to the surface of said molten iron after said molten iron is poured into said iron trough or ladle,
• wherein the oil of said plurality of pucks or briquettes volatilizes on contact with the molten iron, and produces a gas that enhances the reaction between the deoxidizing/desulfurizing scrap metal and the sulfur in the molten iron by at least partially mixing the deoxidizing/desulfurizing scrap metal throughout the molten iron.