Utilization of rice husk substituting fossil fuel for pelletization process of goethite iron ore

Abstract

The study investigated the pelletization of goethite iron ore using rice husk as a renewable carbon and energy substitute for coke breeze, which is a traditional fuel used as pellet feed in integrated steel plants. Cold Crushing Strength and porosity of the indurated pellets with rice husk addition were assessed to determine the utilization potential in the blast furnace iron making process. The X-ray diffraction studies showed the presence of iron rich magnetite and wustite, along with hematite and other oxide slag phases, which may impart high strength to the indurated pellets. FESEM studies showed the absence of free granules, which in turn confirmed the occurrence of particle-particle fusion. 3D skeleton image analyses of the indurated pellets in an X-ray micro-CT show uniform formation of round pores with good pore compactness and narrow pore size distribution inside the pellets, which are favorable properties to achieve high strength and porosity of the indurated pellets.