The addition of rare earth elements (REE) to the melt is one option to trace non-metallic inclusions (NMI) over the steelmaking
process. For cleanness characterization, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) is the
predominant method used to determine traced NMIs. Since rare earth elements appear brighter than the steel matrix in the
image of the backscatter electron detector, the analyzing and evaluation process has to be improved. Two greyscales for the
automated SEM/EDS measurement are applied; evaluation of traced NMIs is performed by a self-developed Matlab tool.
Furthermore, different extraction techniques are used to investigate the detailed morphology of NMIs. Additionally, the
extracted NMIs on the filter residue are analyzed by manual and automated SEM/EDS measurements, demonstrating no
dissolution of REE-traced NMI parts during the extraction and filtration process. Finally, the significance and the potential of
automated SEM/EDS measurements of extracted inclusions on a filter are assessed.