The ferromanganese production using Indonesian low-grade manganese ore using charcoal and palm kernel shell as reductant in mini electric arc furnace

Abstract

The series of ferromanganese production have been conducted using charcoal and palm kernel shell as a reducing agent to replace of cokes. The experiment was preceded by the characterization of raw materials. Manganese ore and limestone were analyzed using XRF and XRD. Charcoal and palm kernel shells were analyzed proximate to determine its carbon content. Based on the analysis of raw materials then calculated mass balance to determine the raw material requirements for each experiment. The variations are the use of reductant ratio (1, 1.5 and 2.1 stoichiometric ratio). Products and slag are analyzed using OES and AAS to determine its chemical composition. The results showed that the use of palm kernel shell as a reductant better than charcoal for all use ratio (1, 1.5 or 2.1 stoichiometric ratio). The highest percentage of manganese extraction using palm kernel shells as a reducing agent is 49.91% (75.58% Mn, 15.75% Fe, 2.12% C, 5.23% Si, 0.08% P) with the product of FeMn is 6,6 kg. The highest percentage of manganese extraction using charcoal as reductant is 44.16% (72.35% Mn, 18.44% Fe, 1.93% C, 5.69% Si, 0.02% P) with the product of FeMn is 6,1 kg. The results showed that palm kernel shell and charcoal could potentially be used as a reductant in the production ferromanganese.