Preparation of ferronickel from nickel laterite via coal-based reduction followed by magnetic separation

The sticking phenomenon between molten slag and refractory is one of the crucial problems when preparing ferronickel from laterite ore using rotary hearth furnace or rotary kiln processes. This study aims to ameliorate sticking problems by using silicon dioxide (SiO₂) to adjust the melting degree of the briquette during reduction roasting. Thermodynamic analysis indicates that the melting temperature of the slag gradually increases with an increase in the SiO₂ proportion (SiO₂/(SiO₂ + Al₂O₃ + MgO) mass ratio). Experimental validations also prove that the briquette retains its original shape when the SiO₂ proportion is greater than 75wt%, and sticking problems are avoided during reduction. A ferronickel product with 8.33wt% Ni and 84.71wt% Fe was prepared via reductive roasting at 1500℃ for 90 min with a SiO₂ proportion of 75wt% and a C/O molar ratio of 1.0 followed by dry magnetic separation; the corresponding recoveries of Ni and Fe reached 75.70% and 77.97%, respectively. The microstructure and phase transformation of reduced briquette reveals that the aggregation and growth of ferronickel particles were not significantly affected after adding SiO₂ to the reduction process.     

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.     

Carbothermic reduction behaviors of Ti-Nb-bearing Fe concentrate from Bayan Obo ore in China

To support the development of technology to utilize low-grade Ti-Nb-bearing Fe concentrate, the reduction of the concentrate by coal was systematically investigated in the present paper. A liquid phase formed when the Ti-Nb-bearing Fe concentrate/coal composite pellet was reduced at temperatures greater than 1100℃. The addition of CaCO₃ improved the reduction rate when the slag basicity was less than 1.0 and inhibited the formation of the liquid phase. Mechanical milling obviously increased the metallization degree compared with that of the standard pellet when reduced under the same conditions. Evolution of the mineral phase composition and microstructure of the reduced Ti-Nb-bearing Fe concentrate/coal composite pellet at 1100℃ were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The volume shrinkage value of the reduced Ti-Nb-bearing Fe concentrate/coal composite pellet with a basicity of 1.0 was approximately 35.2% when the pellet was reduced at 1100℃ for 20 min, which enhanced the external heat transfer to the lower layers when reduced in a practical rotary hearth furnace. The present work provides key parameters and mechanism understanding for the development of carbothermic reduction technology of a Ti-Nb-bearing Fe concentrate incorporated in a pyrometallurgical utilization flow sheet.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Effects of Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript> on iron and nickel reduction in a high-iron and low-nickel laterite ore

This study investigates the reactions of Na₂SO₄ and its effects on iron and nickel reduction in the roasting of a high-iron and low-nickel laterite ore through gas composition, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscope analyses. Results showed that a reduction reaction of Na₂SO₄ to SO₂ was performed with roasting up to 600℃. However, no clear influence on iron and nickel reductions appeared, because only a small amount of Na₂SO₄ reacted to produce SO₂. Na₂SO₄ reacted completely at 1000℃, mainly producing troilite and nepheline, which remarkably improves selective reduction of nickel. Furthermore, the production of low-melting-point minerals, including troilite and nepheline, accelerated nickel reduction and delayed iron reduction, which is attributed to the concurrent production of magnesium magnetite, whose structure is more stable than the structure of magnetite. Reduction reactions of Na₂SO₄ resulted in weakening of the reduction atmosphere, and the main product of Na₂SO₄ changed and delayed the reduction of iron. Eventually, iron metallization was effectively controlled during laterite ore reduction roasting, leading to iron mainly being found in wustite and high iron-containing olivine.     

Metalizing reduction and magnetic separation of vanadium titano-magnetite based on hot briquetting

To achieve high efficiency utilization of Panzhihua vanadium titano-magnetite, a new process of metalizing reduction and magnetic separation based on hot briquetting is proposed, and factors that affect the cold strength of the hot-briquetting products and the efficiency of reduction and magnetic separation are successively investigated through laboratory experiments. The relevant mechanisms are elucidated on the basis of microstructural observations. Experimental results show that the optimal process parameters for hot briquetting include a hot briquetting temperature of 475℃, a carbon ratio of 1.2, ore and coal particle sizes of less than 74 μm. Additionally, with respect to metalizing reduction and magnetic separation, the rational parameters include a magnetic field intensity of 50 mT, a reduction temperature of 1350℃, a reduction time of 60 min, and a carbon ratio of 1.2. Under these above conditions, the crushing strength of the hot-briquetting agglomerates is 1480 N, and the recovery ratios of iron, vanadium, and titanium are as high as 91.19%, 61.82%, and 85.31%, respectively. The new process of metalizing reduction and magnetic separation based on hot briquetting demonstrates the evident technological advantages of high efficiency separation of iron from other valuable elements in the vanadium titano-magnetite.     

Effect of reduction roasting by using bio-char derived from empty fruit bunch on the magnetic properties of Malaysian iron ore

Beneficiation of Malaysian iron ore is becoming necessary as iron resources are depleting. However, the upgrading process is challenging because of the weak magnetic properties of Malaysian iron ore. In this study, bio-char derived from oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) was utilized as an energy source for reduction roasting. Mixtures of Malaysian iron ore and the bio-char were pressed into briquettes and subjected to reduction roasting processes at 873–1173 K. The extent of reduction was estimated on the basis of mass loss, and the magnetization of samples was measured using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). When reduced at 873 K, the original goethite-rich ore was converted into hematite. An increase in temperature to 1073 K caused a significant conversion of hematite into magnetite and enhanced the magnetic susceptibility and saturation magnetization of samples. The magnetic properties diminished at 1173 K as the iron ore was partially reduced to wustite. This reduction roasting by using the bio-char can assist in upgrading the iron ore by improving its magnetic properties.     

A novel process for the recovery of iron,titanium, and vanadium from vanadium-bearing titanomagnetite:sodium modification-direct reduction coupled process

A sodium modification-direct reduction coupled process was proposed for the simultaneous extraction of V and Fe from vanadium-bearing titanomagnetite. The sodium oxidation of vanadium oxides to water-soluble sodium vanadate and the transformation of iron oxides to metallic iron were accomplished in a single-step high-temperature process. The increase in roasting temperature favors the reduction of iron oxides but disfavors the oxidation of vanadium oxides. The recoveries of vanadium, iron, and titanium reached 84.52%, 89.37%, and 95.59%, respectively. Moreover, the acid decomposition efficiency of titanium slag reached 96.45%. Compared with traditional processes, the novel process provides several advantages, including a shorter flow, a lower energy consumption, and a higher utilization efficiency of vanadium-bearing titanomagnetite resources.     

硼铁精矿的碳热还原动力学

为了揭示硼铁精矿的碳热还原机理,以高纯石墨为还原剂,进行硼铁精矿含碳球团等温还原实验,并采用积分法进行动力学分析.还原温度分别设定为1000、1050、1100、1150、1200、1250和1300益,配碳量即C/O摩尔比=1.0.当还原度为0.1<α<0.8时,温度对活化能和速率控制环节有重要影响：还原温度≤1100益时,平均活化能为202.6 kJ·mol-1,还原反应的速率控制环节为碳的气化反应;还原温度>1100益时,平均活化能为116.7 kJ·mol-1,为碳气化反应和FeO还原反应共同控制.当还原度α≥0.8时(还原温度>1100益),可能的速率控制环节为碳原子在金属铁中的扩散.碳气化反应是含碳球团还原过程中主要速率控制环节,原因在于硼铁精矿中硼元素对碳气化反应具有较强烈的化学抑制作用.     

红土镍矿直接还原焙烧磁选回收铁镍

采用添加助熔剂直接还原焙烧-磁选方法,对镍主要以硅酸镍形式存在的低品位红土镍矿中镍和铁的富集进行了研究. 结果表明,同时添加助熔剂,可获得较好的技术指标. 最佳工艺条件为:煤作还原剂,质量分数为15%;KD-2为助熔剂,质量分数为20%;焙烧温度为1200℃;焙烧时间为40min. 在此条件下可以得到镍品位10.83%、铁品位52.87%、镍回收率82.15%和铁回收率54.59%的镍铁精矿. 用X射线衍射(XRD)和透射电镜(TEM)对还原过程中助熔剂和煤的作用机理进行了研究. 发现KD-2可以与原矿中含镍的石英和硅酸盐矿物反应,释放出其中的镍;煤用量太多时可生成部分不含镍的金属铁,会造成镍的回收率降低.     

高铝铁矿石工艺矿物学特征及铝铁分离技术

研究高铝褐铁矿石的工艺矿物学特性及其对铝铁分离的影响.研究结果表明,铁矿物主要为针铁矿和赤铁矿;铝的载体矿物主要是以微细颗粒集合体被针铁矿包裹的三水铝石和以类质同象存在于针铁矿中的铝;铝硅酸盐矿物呈分散状或浸染状与针铁矿共生,铁铝赋存关系十分复杂.强磁选、磁化焙烧-磁选不能有效破坏矿石中铝、铁细粒嵌布和类质同象结构,铝铁分离效果不明显;钠盐焙烧-浸出工艺能有效实现高铝褐铁矿的铝铁分离,当原矿全铁含量为48.92%,Al2O3含量为8.16%,SiO2含量为4.24%时,可获得全铁品位为62.84%,Al2O3含量为2.33%,SiO2含量为0.45%的铁精矿,铁的回收率为98.56%.     

红土镍矿含碳球团深还原-磁选富集镍铁工艺

以红土镍矿为原料,利用深还原工艺将镍和铁由其矿物还原成金属镍和铁,再通过磁选分离富集得到高品位的镍铁精矿.对深还原焙烧工艺参数进行了优化,得到最佳的工艺条件如下:内配碳量(C/O原子比)为1.3,还原时间为80 min,CaO质量分数为10%,还原温度为1300℃.在此条件下得到的镍铁精矿中镍品位为5.17%,全铁品位为65.38%,镍和铁的回收率分别为89.29%和91.06%.利用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)及能谱分析(EDS)对深还原矿及磁选后的镍铁精矿进行了分析,发现深还原矿中出现金属粒,为Ni--Fe合金,镍全部溶于镍铁合金中,铁还有少部分以FeO的形式存在;磁选过程除去大量的脉石,精矿中主要物相为Fe、Ni--Fe、FeO及少量的CaO.MgO.2SiO2.     

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%.     

深度还原分离回收含铌铁尾矿中铌和铁的试验研究

以某稀土综合尾矿经磨矿-磁选-浮选处理后的含铌铁尾矿为对象,采用深度还原焙烧的方法分离回收铌和铁,研究还原焙烧条件对铌、铁分离效果的影响。结果表明,还原剂种类对铁回收率的影响较为显著,对铌的分离回收影响相对较小,还原剂为褐煤时铁回收率最高;还原时间的延长、焙烧温度的升高以及助熔剂用量的增加均有利于铌、铁的分离回收;在还原剂褐煤用量为10%、助熔剂用量为15%、还原时间为60min、还原温度为1300℃的条件下可实现含铌铁尾矿中铌、铁的高效分离回收,得到w(TFe)为94.82%的铁精矿,铁回收率为99.53%,同时还得到w(Nb2O5)为0.3519%的铌粗精矿,铌回收率为99.62%。     

Comprehensive recovery of lead,zinc, and iron from hazardous jarosite residues using direct reduction followed by magnetic separation

Lead, zinc, and iron were recovered from jarosite residues using direct reduction followed by magnetic separation. The influence of the coal dosage, reduction temperature, and reduction time on the volatilization rates of lead and zinc and the metallization rate of iron were investigated. The results show that the volatilization rates of lead and zinc were 96.97% and 99.89%, respectively, and the iron metallization rate was 91.97% under the optimal reduction roasting conditions of a coal dosage of 25.0wt% and reduction roasting at 1250℃ for 60 min. The magnetic concentrate with an iron content of 90.59wt% and an iron recovery rate of 50.87% was obtained under the optimum conditions in which 96.56% of the reduction product particles were smaller than 37 μm and the magnetic field strength was 24 kA/m. Therefore, the results of this study demonstrate that recovering valuable metals such as lead, zinc, and iron from jarosite residues is feasible using the developed approach.     

Comprehensive recovery of lead,zinc, and iron from hazardous jarosite residues using direct reduction followed by magnetic separation

Lead, zinc, and iron were recovered from jarosite residues using direct reduction followed by magnetic separation. The influence of the coal dosage, reduction temperature, and reduction time on the volatilization rates of lead and zinc and the metallization rate of iron were investigated. The results show that the volatilization rates of lead and zinc were 96.97% and 99.89%, respectively, and the iron metallization rate was 91.97% under the optimal reduction roasting conditions of a coal dosage of 25.0 wt% and reduction roasting at 1250°C for 60 min. The magnetic concentrate with an iron content of 90.59 wt% and an iron recovery rate of 50.87% was obtained under the optimum conditions in which 96.56% of the reduction product particles were smaller than 37 μm and the magnetic field strength was 24 k A/m. Therefore, the results of this study demonstrate that recovering valuable metals such as lead, zinc, and iron from jarosite residues is feasible using the developed approach.