The GATE Grind

GATE 2025 MT – Question 16

Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy · Ironmaking · 1 mark · Multiple choice

Hot metal from a blast furnace is treated with mill scale prior to oxygen steelmaking for ______.

  1. dephosphorization
  2. decarburization
  3. desulphurization
  4. desiliconization

Practise this question in The GATE Grind →

Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (D) desiliconization

Explanation

Mill scale supplies iron oxides that oxidize dissolved silicon preferentially during hot-metal pretreatment. The silicon enters the slag as silica, reducing the silicon load before oxygen steelmaking. This treatment is **desiliconization, D**.