Efficient metallization of magnetite concentrate by reduction with agave bagasse as a source of reducing agents

The reduction behavior and metallization degree of magnetite concentrate with agave bagasse were investigated in an inert atmosphere.The effects of temperature,biomass content,and residence time on reduction experiments and metallization degree were investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy.Compared with other types of biomass,agave bagasse had lower contents of nitrogen,sulfur,and ash.X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the metallization degree improved with increasing temperature and biomass content.Complete metallization was achieved at 1100℃ for 30 min with 65:35 and 50:50 ratios of the magnetite concentrate to the agave bagasse.These results demonstrate that agave bagasse promotes the efficient metallization of magnetite concentrate without the external addition of a reducing agent.Therefore,this biomass is a technical suitable alternative to replace fossil fuels in steelmaking.

Atmospheric Deposition-Carried Pb, Zn, and Cd from a Zinc Smelter and Their Effect on Soil Microorganisms

Dust emissions from smelters, as a major contributor to heavy metal contamination in soils, could severely influence soil quality. Downwind surface soils within 1.5 km of a zinc smelter, which was active for 10 years but ceased in 2000, in Magu Town, Cuizhou Province, China were selected to examine Pb, Zn, and Cd concentrations and their fractionation along a distance gradient from a zinc smelter, and to study the possible effects of Pb, Zn, and Cd accumulation on soil microorganisms by comparing with a reference soil located at a downwind distance of 10 km from the zinc smelter. Soils within 1.5 km of the zinc smelter accumulated high levels of heavy metals Zn （508 mg kg^-1）, Pb （95.6 mg kg^-1）, and Cd （5.98 mg kg^-1） with low ratios of Zn/Cd （59.1-115） and Pb/Cd （12.4-23.4）. Composite pollution indices （CPIs） of surface soils （2.52-15.2） were 3 to 13 times higher than the reference soils. In metal accumulated soils, exchangeable plus carbonate-bound fractions accounted for more than 10% of the total Zn, Pb, and Cd. The saturation degree of metals （SDM） in soils within 1.5 km of the smelter （averaging 1.25） was six times higher than that of the reference soils （0.209）. A smaller soil microbial biomass was found more frequently in metal accumulated soils （85.1-438 μg C g^-1） than in reference soils （497 μg C g^-1）, and a negative correlation （P 〈 0.01） of soil microbial biomass carbon to organic carbon ratio （Cmic/Corg） with SDM was observed. Microbial consumption of carbon sources was more rapid in contaminated soils than in reference soils, and a shift in the substrate utilization pattern was apparent and was negatively correlated with SDM （R = -0.773, P 〈 0.01）. Consequently, dust deposited Pb, Zn, and Cd in soils from zinc smelting were readily mobilized, and were detrimental to soil quality mainly in respect of microbial biomass .