ANALYSIS OF SOLID-STATE REDUCTION OF IRON-ORE FROM A COUPLE OF EXPERIMENTAL MEASUREMENTS

Compacts of high grade iron ore fines containing 5-20 wt.% petroleum c oke are fired at 950-1100 degrees C in an inert atmosphere. A method o f calculation has been devised to derive reduction parameters using on ly two experimental measurements. Microscopic examination as well as X -ray diffraction is used to identify the phases developed during reduc tion. The correlation between product gas composition [CO2/(CO2+CO)] a nd the corresponding reduction extent together with microscopic examin ation proved that the reduction process proceeds in a stepwise manner. The overall reduction process is controlled by Boudouard reaction. Ap parent activation energy values are calculated and given in the range 29-55 kcal/mole.