Composite Micropelletization of Slime for Iron Grade and Recovery Maximization to Generate Pellet Feed Materials

Abstract

The present research work deals with the upgradation of iron ore slime by maximizing its iron grade and recovery so that it can be used in downstream iron making processes. Slime contains significant amount of iron value and is still being dumped as waste which also requires large area for dumping. Slime (45–48 wt% Fetotal) after converting into dry powder was mixed with desired amount of reductant (NCC), and the mixture was converted into composite micropellets (+ 1 to − 6 mm) by using disc pelletizer. Produced composite micropellets were subjected to reduction at desired reduction conditions. Temperature, NCC dosage and time were the prime parameters whose effect on iron grade and recovery was investigated. Wet magnetic separation tests were performed on reduced samples to upgrade the iron content. Maximum value of iron grade and recovery was achieved at 900 °C with 11% of NCC for 60 min. After magnetic separation, iron content and recovery in the magnetic concentrate were 57.27% and 60%, respectively. This route of reduction for steel plant generated slime may be a helping hand in the usage of slime to prepare magnetic concentrate-based pellet feed materials.