Maximizing the Recycling of Iron Ore Pellets Fines Using Innovative Organic Binders

Abstract

This research work focuses on the practicality of using organic binders for the briquetting of pellet fines. The developed briquettes were evaluated in terms of mechanical strength and reduction behavior with hydrogen. A hydraulic compression testing machine and thermogravimetric analysis were incorporated into this work to investigate the mechanical strength and reduction behavior of the produced briquettes. Six organic binders, namely Kempel, lignin, starch, lignosulfonate, Alcotac CB6, and Alcotac FE14, in addition to sodium silicate, were tested for the briquetting of pellet fines. The highest mechanical strength was achieved using sodium silicate, Kempel, CB6, and lignosulfonate. The best combination of binder to attain the required mechanical strength even after 100% reduction was found to be a combination of 1.5 wt.% of organic binder (either CB6 or Kempel) with 0.5 wt.% of inorganic binder (sodium silicate). Upscaling using an extruder gave propitious results in the reduction behavior, as the produced briquettes were highly porous and attained pre-requisite mechanical strength.

Advances in Mineral Processing, Waste Recycling and Extractive Metallurgy

“…Manu et al [ 9 ] submitted an article entitled “Maximizing the Recycling of Iron Ore Pellets Fines Using Innovative Organic Binders”. This research work focuses on the practicality of using organic binders for the briquetting of pellet fines.…”

Developing Iron Ore Pellets Using Novel Binders for H2-Based Direct Reduction

“…Lime also has to be added while pelletizing with bentonite to adjust the basicity, which increases the amount of slag generated and the CO 2 emissions [5]. For every ton of crude steel produced, approximately 500 kg of solid wastes (slag) are generated [9,10]. One possible solution to reduce the undesirable gangue constituents, including alumina, silica, and calcium, in the final product is to explore alternative binders that can replace or decrease the usage of bentonite.…”