Recovery of iron from high phosphorus oolitic iron ore using coal-based reduction followed by magnetic separation

Oolitic iron ore is one of the most important iron resources. This paper reports the recovery of iron from high phosphorus oolitic iron ore using coal-based reduction and magnetic separation. The influences of reduction temperature, reduction time, C/O mole ratio, and CaO content on the metallization degree and iron recovery were investigated in detail. Experimental results show that reduced products with the metallization degree of 95.82% could be produced under the optimal conditions (i.e., reduction temperature, 1250℃; reduction time, 50 min; C/O mole ratio, 2.0; and CaO content, 10wt%). The magnetic concentrate containing 89.63wt% Fe with the iron recovery of 96.21% was obtained. According to the mineralogical and morphologic analysis, the iron minerals had been reduced and iron was mainly enriched into the metallic iron phase embedded in the slag matrix in the form of spherical particles. Apatite was also reduced to phosphorus, which partially migrated into the metallic iron phase.     

Application of a water cooling treatment and its effect on coal-based reduction of high-chromium vanadium and titanium iron ore

A water cooling treatment was applied in the coal-based reduction of high-chromium vanadium and titanium (V–Ti–Cr) iron ore from the Hongge region of Panzhihua, China. Its effects on the metallization ratio (η), S removal ratio (R_S), and P removal ratio (R_P) were studied and analyzed on the basis of chemical composition determined via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The metallic iron particle size and the element distribution of Fe, V, Cr, and Ti in a reduced briquette after water cooling treatment at 1350°C were determined and observed via scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the water cooling treatment improved the η, R_S, and R_P in the coal-based reduction of V–Ti–Cr iron ore compared to those obtained with a furnace cooling treatment. Meanwhile, the particle size of metallic iron obtained via the water cooling treatment was smaller than that of metallic iron obtained via the furnace cooling treatment; however, the particle size reached 70 μm at 1350°C, which is substantially larger than the minimum particle size required (20 μm) for magnetic separation. Therefore, the water cooling treatment described in this work is a good method for improving the quality of metallic iron in coal-based reduction and it could be applied in the coal-based reduction of V–Ti–Cr iron ore followed by magnetic separation.     

煤种对钛磁铁矿直接还原-磁选钛铁分离的影响

研究了烟煤和无烟煤对海滨钛磁铁矿直接还原-磁选钛铁分离的影响机理.结果表明,在试验用量范围内,两种煤对还原铁指标的影响规律相近,煤用量低时钛磁铁矿还原不充分.随煤用量增加,被还原的金属铁越来越多,但粒度较小,与其他颗粒嵌布紧密,因此还原铁Fe品位低,Ti O2品位高,铁回收率则先提高后基本不变.所有煤用量下所得金属铁颗粒均纯净.和无烟煤相比,烟煤固定碳较低,还原气氛较弱,但灰分较高,有利于金属铁颗粒的聚集长大;因此相同用量的烟煤为还原剂时,焙烧矿中金属铁颗粒较少,但粒度较大,还原铁中Fe品位较高,铁回收率较低,Ti O2品位较低.     

高磷鲕状赤铁矿直接还原过程中铁颗粒长大特性研究

研究鄂西高磷鲕状赤铁矿直接还原过程中金属铁颗粒的长大特性,并着重讨论还原温度、渣相碱度及反应时间对铁颗粒长大的影响。研究结果表明,高磷鲕状赤铁矿直接还原过程中金属铁颗粒成核及晶核长大的过程是破坏原矿鲕状结构的过程;提高还原温度以及延长还原时间有利于铁颗粒的聚集长大,提高渣相碱度不利于铁颗粒的聚集长大。     

高磷矿氢气还原过程的原位研究

通过原位观察的方法,研究了H2气氛、不同温度下高磷矿还原过程的矿相结构演变规律和温度对金属铁析出形态的影响。高磷矿的鲕状结构在还原过程中未被破坏掉;随着温度的提高,矿相结构的演变加快,温度较高时Fe发生明显偏聚,金属铁从赤铁矿相中加快析出。还原温度对高磷矿中金属铁的析出形态影响显著：在700℃时金属铁析出在矿石颗粒表面形成致密铁层;800℃时析出的金属铁形貌复杂化,铁层致密度下降,出现孔洞,同时有少量的短小铁晶须;900℃时铁晶须数量明显增多,同时伴随着大量多孔海绵铁的析出。因此,可以通过调节还原温度和时间,使得气基还原过程避免黏结失流,同时高效还原高磷矿。     

Dolochar as a reductant in the reduction roasting of iron ore slimes

The present investigation examines the viability of dolochar, a sponge iron industry waste material, as a reductant in the reduction roasting of iron ore slimes, which are another waste generated by iron ore beneficiation plants. Under statistically determined optimum conditions, which include a temperature of 900℃, a reductant-to-feed mass ratio of 0.35, and a reduction time of 30-45 min, the roasted mass, after being subjected to low-intensity magnetic separation, yielded an iron ore concentrate of approximately 64wt% Fe at a mass recovery of approximately 71% from the feed iron ore slime assaying 56.2wt% Fe. X-ray diffraction analyses indicated that the magnetic products contain magnetite and hematite as the major phases, whereas the nonmagnetic fractions contain quartz and hematite.     

Utilization of waste polyethylene terephthalate as a reducing agent in the reduction of iron ore composite pellets

The increasing consumption of plastics inevitably results in increasing amounts of waste plastics. Because of their long degradation periods, these wastes negatively affect the natural environment. Numerous studies have been conducted to recycle and eliminate waste plastics. The potential for recycling waste plastics in the iron and steel industry has been underestimated; the high C and H contents of plastics may make them suitable as alternative reductants in the reduction process of iron ore. This study aims to substitute plastic wastes for coal in reduction melting process and to investigate their performance during reduction at high temperature. We used a common type of waste plastic, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), because of its high carbon and hydrogen contents. Composite pellets containing PET wastes, coke, and magnetite iron ore were reduced at selected temperatures of 1400 and 1450°C for reduction time from 2 to 10 min to investigate the reduction melting behavior of these pellets. The results showed that an increased temperature and reduction time increased the reduction ratio of the pellets. The optimum experimental conditions for obtaining metallic iron (iron nuggets) were reduction at 1450°C for 10 min using composite pellets containing 60% PET and 40% coke.     

Upgrading and dephosphorization of Western Australian iron ore using reduction roasting by adding sodium carbonate

The technology of direct reduction by adding sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) and magnetic separation was developed to treat Western Australian high phosphorus iron ore. The iron ore and reduced product were investigated by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. It is found that phosphorus exists within limonite in the form of solid solution, which cannot be removed through traditional ways. During reduction roasting, Na₂CO₃ reacts with gangue minerals (SiO₂ and Al₂O₃), forming aluminum silicate-containing phosphorus and damaging the ore structure, which promotes the separation between iron and phosphorus during magnetic separation. Meanwhile, Na₂CO₃ also improves the growth of iron grains, increasing the iron grade and iron recovery. The iron concentrate, assaying 94.12wt% Fe and 0.07wt% P at the iron recovery of 96.83% and the dephosphorization rate of 74.08%, is obtained under the optimum conditions. The final product (metal iron powder) after briquetting can be used as the burden for steelmaking by an electric arc furnace to replace scrap steel.     

Oxide coating mechanism during fluidized bed reduction: solid-state reaction characteristics between iron ore particles and MgO

Experiments on the solid-state reaction between iron ore particles and MgO were performed to investigate the coating mechanism of MgO on the iron ore particles’ surface during fluidized bed reduction. MgO powders and iron ore particles were mixed and compressed into briquettes and, subsequently, roasted at different temperatures and for different time periods. A Mg-containing layer was observed on the outer edge of the iron ore particles when the roasting temperature was greater than 1173 K. The concentration of Fe in the Mg-containing layer was evenly distributed and was approximately 10wt%, regardless of the temperature change. Boundary layers of Mg and Fe were observed outside of the iron ore particles. The change in concentration of Fe in the boundary layers was simulated using a gas–solid diffusion model, and the diffusion coefficients of Fe and Mg in these layers at different temperatures were calculated. The diffusion activation energies of Fe and Mg in the boundary layers in these experiments were evaluated to be approximately 176 and 172 kJ/mol, respectively.     

Distribution behavior of phosphorus in the coal-based reduction of high-phosphorus-content oolitic iron ore

This study focuses on the reduction of phosphorus from high-phosphorus-content oolitic iron ore via coal-based reduction. The distribution behavior of phosphorus (i.e., the phosphorus content and the phosphorus distribution ratio in the metal, slag, and gas phases) during reduction was investigated in detail. Experimental results showed that the distribution behavior of phosphorus was strongly influenced by the reduction temperature, the reduction time, and the C/O molar ratio. A higher temperature and a longer reaction time were more favorable for phosphorus reduction and enrichment in the metal phase. An increase in the C/O ratio improved phosphorus reduction but also hindered the mass transfer of the reduced phosphorus when the C/O ratio exceeded 2.0. According to scanning electron microscopy analysis, the iron ore was transformed from an integral structure to metal and slag fractions during the reduction process. Apatite in the ore was reduced to P, and the reduced P was mainly enriched in the metal phase. These results suggest that the proposed method may enable utilization of high-phosphorus-content oolitic iron ore resources.     

某高磷铁矿提铁降磷研究

以湖南某地高磷铁矿为原料,采用还原焙烧一磁选一硫酸浸出工艺进行提铁降磷试验研究.对还原焙烧一磁选粗精矿进行硫酸浸出工艺参数优化,对浸出时间、液固比、硫酸用量和搅拌速度等因素对提铁降磷效果的影响进行研究.研究结果表明:对原矿品位为47.28%Fe(质量分数)和磷含量为1.59%的高磷铁矿石经过还原焙烧一磁选得到的粗精矿,在浸出时间为2h、液固比为2.5、硫酸用量为50 kg/t和搅拌速度为500 r/min的条件下进行酸性浸出提铁降磷,最终得到铁精矿品位达62.35%Fe,磷含量为0.20%,铁总回收率为90.54%和脱磷率为87.42%.     

红土镍矿深度还原-磁选富集镍铁实验研究

采用深度还原-磁选工艺,以煤粉为还原剂,添加氧化钙作助溶剂,在微熔化,不完全造渣的条件下,将矿石中镍和铁的氧化物还原成金属镍铁,然后经磁选方法使金属镍铁在磁性产品中得到富集.结果表明,深度还原最佳工艺条件为:还原温度1 300℃,还原时间60 min,配煤过剩倍数2.在此工艺条件下得到镍、铁质量分数分别为5.01%,22.46%的镍铁产品,镍、铁回收率分别为96.05%,79.69%.对深度还原过程研究表明,还原物料中镍和铁以金属合金颗粒形式存在,高温有利于镍铁金属相凝聚,适当延长还原反应时间有利于镍铁颗粒的还原和聚集长大,进而有利于磁选富集.     

鲕状赤铁矿悬浮焙烧的磁性研究

针对鄂西某鲕状赤铁矿进行悬浮焙烧研究,并采用振动样品磁强计、X射线衍射分析仪、穆斯堡尔谱仪分析还原温度、还原时间、氧化温度、颗粒粒度对焙烧物料磁性和物相组成的影响规律.结果表明:铁矿石经悬浮焙烧后磁性明显增强,且焙烧物料磁性与强磁性铁矿物的含量呈正比.当还原温度为550~650℃时,还原物料的磁化强度和比磁化率随还原温度的升高而升高,超过700℃后则随之降低.延长还原时间可提高还原物料的磁化强度和比磁化率.焙烧物料中γ-Fe2O3含量随氧化温度升高而增加,在氧化温度为350℃时物料中γ-Fe2O3的含量达到最大值.当焙烧物料颗粒粒度小于15μm时,颗粒的磁化强度和比磁化率随之降低,而剩磁和矫顽力则随之增加.     

钒钛磁铁矿固态还原的研究

研究了钒钛磁铁矿的固态还原过程及影响因素,讨论了磨矿粒度、还原温度和配碳量对固态还原金属化率及还原后炉料中钛走向的影响.采用煤基直接还原工艺流程,能够将钒钛磁铁矿中铁的氧化物还原为金属铁,然后通过磁选,可实现钛、铁的有效分离.实验结果表明,最佳工艺条件为:还原温度1 100℃,配碳量为1∶1,磨矿粒度控制在75~150μm之间.在此工艺条件下得到铁的金属化率和渣中钛的质量分数分别在80%和36%以上.该工艺为我国大批量钒钛磁铁矿的开发利用提供了新途径.     

不同还原度铁氧化物球团在微波场中的升温及还原行为

为深入了解氧化球团在微波竖炉中的升温以及煤基直接还原行为,实验采用铁精矿氧化球团作为基础原料,在气体还原剂条件下进行预还原,通过控制还原时间得到不同还原度铁氧化物球团,并从不同还原度铁氧化物球团的结构以及性能出发,研究它们在微波场中的升温性能及其还原变化.电磁性能测试结果表明,球团中的铁及其氧化物在微波场中的升温速度从快到慢依次为:Fe3O4,Fe2O3,Fe,FeO.微波加热还原结果分析及矿相结构观察显示,Fe2O3的深还原时间较长,物相多重转变,造成过程温度和还原气氛跟不上氧化物的还原反应速度;Fe3O4阶段升温速度快,结构松散,有助于进一步的还原,但进入浮士体(FeO的固溶体)阶段后孔隙率降低,升温速度骤降,造成还原的困难;在还原度达到66.90％时,表层以金属铁相为主,孔洞发达,吸波性能强,在气化反应有效进行的条件下,球团将会实现快速还原.     

Effect of carbon species on the reduction and melting behavior of boron-bearing iron concentrate/carbon composite pellets

Iron nugget and boron-rich slag can be obtained in a short time through high-temperature reduction of boronbearing iron concentrate by carbonaceous material, both of which are agglomerated together as a carbon composite pellet. This is a novel flow sheet for the comprehensive utilization of boron-bearing iron concentrate to produce a new kind of man-made boron ore. The effect of reducing agent species (i.e., carbon species) on the reduction and melting process of the composite pellet was investigated at a laboratory scale in the present work. The results show that, the reduction rate of the composite pellet increases from bituminite, anthracite, to coke at temperatures ranging from 950 to 1300℃. Reduction temperature has an important effect on the microstructure of reduced pellets. Carbon species also affects the behavior of reduced metallic iron particles. The anthracite-bearing composite pellet melts faster than the bituminitebearing composite pellet, and the coke-bearing composite pellet cannot melt due to the high fusion point of coke ash. With anthracite as the reducing agent, the recovery rates of iron and boron are 96.5% and 95.7%, respectively. This work can help us get a further understanding of the new process mechanism.     

临江羚羊铁矿石深度还原试验研究

针对原矿品位为34.79%的吉林临江羚羊铁矿石,进行了深度还原单因素条件试验;考察了还原温度、还原时间、料层厚度等因素对深度还原及磁选分离结果的影响.试验结果表明,还原温度、还原时间对深度还原过程的影响较大.在配煤过剩倍数2.0,还原煤粒度-1.5 mm和矿石粒度-2.0 mm的条件下,适宜的深度还原条件为还原温度1 275℃,还原时间50 min,料层厚度30 mm.在该试验条件下,获得了最终产品含铁质量分数93.05%,回收率85%,金属化率91.29%,达到我国炼钢用直接还原铁H92产品标准要求.     

钢坯高压水除鳞后的表面氧化铁皮形貌及内部组织演变

在不同温度和时间条件下对钢坯进行加热,出炉后利用高压水去除钢坯表面氧化铁皮,然后利用光学显微镜和扫描电镜观察钢坯表面形貌及内部组织,利用XRD分析除鳞后钢坯表面氧化物相组成。结果表明,除鳞后的钢坯表面残留一层氧化铁皮,该层氧化物相组成取决于加热温度和保温时间。低温短时加热时,残留氧化铁皮相组成中含有单质Fe;提高加热温度和延长保温时间使钢基体表面被完全氧化成Fe3O4和Fe2O3。钢坯在炉中长时间高温加热使残留氧化铁皮晶粒粗大,钢坯基体内部出现过热、晶界氧化以及脱碳等问题,加热温度越高、加热时间越长,氧化烧损越严重。     

Phase transformation and reduction kinetics during the hydrogen reduction of ilmenite concentrate

The reduction of ilmenite concentrate by hydrogen gas was investigated in the temperature range of 500 to 1200℃. The microstructure and phase transition of the reduction products were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and optical microscopy (OM). It was found that the weight loss and iron metallization rate increased with the increase of reduction temperature and reaction time. The iron metallization rate could reach 87.5% when the sample was reduced at 1150℃ for 80 min. The final phase constituents mainly consist of Fe, M₃O₅ solid solution phase (M=Mg, Ti, and Fe), and few titanium oxide. Microstructure analysis shows that the surfaces of the reduction products have many holes and cracks and the reactions take place from the exterior of the grain to its interior. The kinetics of reduction indicates that the rate-controlling step is diffusion process control with the activation energy of 89 kJ·mol-1.     

Recovery of iron from copper tailings via low-temperature direct reduction and magnetic separation: process optimization and mineralogical study

Currently, the majority of copper tailings are not effectively developed. Worldwide, large amounts of copper tailings generated from copper production are continuously dumped, posing a potential environmental threat. Herein, the recovery of iron from copper tailings via low-temperature direct reduction and magnetic separation was conducted; process optimization was carried out, and the corresponding mineralogy was investigated. The reduction time, reduction temperature, reducing agent (coal), calcium chloride additive, grinding time, and magnetic field intensity were examined for process optimization. Mineralogical analyses of the sample, reduced pellets, and magnetic concentrate under various conditions were performed by X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry to elucidate the iron reduction and growth mechanisms. The results indicated that the optimum parameters of iron recovery include a reduction temperature of 1150℃, a reduction time of 120 min, a coal dosage of 25%, a calcium chloride dosage of 2.5%, a magnetic field intensity of 100 mT, and a grinding time of 1 min. Under these conditions, the iron grade in the magnetic concentrate was greater than 90%, with an iron recovery ratio greater than 95%.