Phosphorus Removal of High Phosphorus Iron Ore by Gas-Based Reduction and Melt Separation

A new method （gas-based separation plus melt separation） has been proposed to remove phosphorus of the high phosphorus iron ore which was 1.25 % of phosphorus content and 50. 0% of iron content. HSC chemistry package and the coexistence theory of slag structure were adopted for theoretical analysis. The gas-based reduction was carried out using a fixed bed reactor and the ore sample of 80 g with an average particle size of 2 mm were reduced using CO or H2 at temperature of 1 073 K for 5 hours. 50 g of the reduced sample with 3.0% CaO as additive was then subjected to melt separation in an electric furnace at temperature of 1 873 K under Ar atmosphere. In each run, SEM, EDS, optical microscopic examination and chemical analysis of the reduced ore sample, the metal sample and the slag sample were conducted. Results of all gas-based reduction experiments showed that iron metallization ratios were some 65% and the phosphorus compounds in the ore remained unchanged. It was agreed well with the simula- tions except for the iron metallization rate being less than predicted value; this difference was attributed to kinetics. Results of melt separation experiments showed that P content in metal samples is 0.33% （metal sample from H2 reduction product） and 0.27% （metal sample from CO reduction product）. The phosphorus partition ratios of both cases were less than predicted values. Some P in the metal samples existed as slag inclusion was considered to be the reason for this discrepancy.

Intensifying Gaseous Reduction of High Phosphorus Iron Ore Fines by Microwave Pretreatment

Gaseous reduction kinetics of the high phosphorus iron ore fines from Hubei in China and effect of microwave pretreatment on the gaseous reduction behavior were studied. Gaseous reduction kinetics were investigated by TG （Thermogravimetric） methods using LINSEIS STA PT 1600 thermal analysis equipment. Microwave pretreatments to the ore fines with four power levels were performed using a high temperature microwave reactor. Its effect was examined by TG methods and its mechanism was analyzed by SEM （scanning electron microscope） and EDS （energy dispersive spectrometer）. Gaseous reduction tests were carried out using a tubular furnace. Results of kinetic study indicate that controlling step of the gaseous reduction of the ore fines is a mixing control of gas internal diffusion and interface chemical reaction when reduction fraction is less than 0.8 and is solid state diffusion when reduction fraction is more than 0.8. Microwave pretreatment of the ore fines could change the pore structure of the oolitic unit to generate cracks, fissures and loose zones, which promotes reduction in the early stage and delays the occurrence of sintering. Gaseous reduction tests show in the condition that the ore fines are pretreated with a microwave power of 450 W for 4 min and reduced under temperature of 1 273 K, the gaseous reduction of the ore fines could be apparently intensified. Using CO or H2 as a reductant and ore fines being reduced for 1.5 to 2 h , increase of metallization rate of the ore fines is 10% to 13%.