Complex Additives on the Basis of Red Mud for Intensification of Iron-Ore Sintering and Pelletizing

Abstract

Currently, production of stable pelletized materials for blast furnace remains a major challenge for iron and steel metallurgy. The use of red mud with a low content of alkaline elements allows intensifying sintering processes of agglomerate and making pellets from ores and concentrates of ferruginous quartzite. Structural studies have shown that the beneficial effect of low alkaline red mud occurs at the stage of melts in high temperature sintering zone.

RUSAL ETC in cooperation with MISIS develops a process for introduction into sintering mixture of sintering aids on the basis of red mud to improve the agglomerate quality and to raise capacity of sintering machines. For the production of pellets a process is in development for activation of bentonite clay with Bayer red mud aimed to raise iron content in sintered pellets, to reduce consumption of expensive natural bentonite and to improve quality of sintered pellets.

A complex of laboratory and plant investigations has been conducted; the results obtained testifying viability of introduction of sintering aid and complex binding agent on the basis of red mud at enterprises of iron and steel metallurgy for the production of agglomerate (sinter) and iron ore pellets.