1921.] 



Basic Slag Problems. 



BASIC SLAG PROBLEMS. 



The supersession in the steel industry of the basic Bessemer 

 process by the basic open hearth process, with consofjuont cliange 

 in the character of the basic slag produced, has created important 

 problems regarding the use of basic slag in agriculture. In 

 place of the old high-grade slag containing 40 per cent, to 45 per 

 cent, of phosphates, agriculturists now usually obtain slag con- 

 taining only about 20 per cent, of phosphates, and often even 

 less. 



In March, 1920,* the subject w\as discussed by the I'araday 

 Society, and a resolution was adopted recommending the Ministry 

 of Agriculture to appoint a committee to study the basic slag 

 problem. Lord Lee, who was then Minister of Agriculture, 

 acceded to this request, and a permanent committee was set up 

 in July, 1920, consisting of representatives of steel makers, slag 

 grinders and agricultural consumers! " to consider the develop- 

 n:ent and improvement of the manufacture of basic slag and the 

 extension of its use." This Committee has now presented to 

 the Minister an InteHm Reportt which is summarised below. 



The Committee discussed : The quantity of slag producible 

 assuming our present steel output to be maintained, and a com- 

 parison of this amount with the estimate of Sir Thomas Middleton 

 showing how much slag can advantageously be utilised by 

 farmers in this country; (2) The possibility of increasing the 

 amount or quality of the slag by some method additional to the 

 ordinary steel making processes ; and (3) The agiicultural value 

 of the slags now obtainable. 



(1) Quantity of Slag Available. — The National Federation of 

 Iron and Steel Manufacturers has obtained from the steel 

 makers returns of which the following are short summaries. The 



♦The report of the discussion " Basic Slags : their Pro(hicti(>n and Utilisation 

 in Agriculture " was published in the Transactions of the Faradav Society, 

 Dec, 1020, Price 7s. 6d. 



t The composition of this Connnittee is now as follows : — Dr. K. J. l\ussell 

 (Chairman), Mr. T. Baxter, Mr.G. A. Bellwood, J.P.. Mr. Colin Campbell, .I.P., 

 Mr. Coleman, Dr. Arthur Cooper, Mr. 1^. K. Enfield. Mr. G. Hatton, Mr. 

 Mannaberg, Mr. (I. V. Parker, Mr. H. G. liichardson. Dr. W. S<Mnerville, Mr. 

 J. G. Stewart, Mr. B. Talbot. Sccretari/, Mr. W. R. Black, Ministry of Agricul- 

 ture and Fisheries, 4, Whitehall Place. S.W. 1. 



X Not at present to be printed elsewere. 



