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Structures and Reduction Kinetics of Pelletized Rich Iron Ores for Iron Production: a Case Study for Na Rua Iron Ore in Vietnam

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Abstract

The microstructures and kinetics of a rich iron ore (TFe = 65.84%) of Na Rua mine, Vietnam, used for the iron production were investigated in this study. Thermal behaviors of iron ores were well-examined by heating microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential thermal analysis. After being pelletized and then oxidatively fired at 500–1200 °C for 2 h, the pellets fired at 1200 °C (P1200) displayed a hard and dense structure with a decent compressive strength of 317.9 kg/pellet whereas those fired at 500 °C (P500) had a soft and spongy structure. The reduction of iron pellets conducted in a flow of a 60–100% CO2/Ar gas mixture at 900–1100 °C showed significantly higher efficiency than the reduction using coal. The spongy pellets showed superior performance for the reduction in the CO/Ar gas mixture compared to the dense ones, compatible with the production of sponge iron. When mixed with an amount of coal, P1200 designed for iron production in the blast furnace demonstrated an impressive reduction activity compared to P500 and previous studies. The kinetics of pellet reduction was determined by the diffusion of substances through the solid product layers having the mathematical model of \(1- \frac{2}{3}f- {\left(1-f\right)}^{2/3}=kt\). The microstructures of pellets during the oxidative firing and reduction were also examined by X-ray diffractometry; scanning electronic microscopy; energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy; and Brunauer, Emmet, and Teller method.

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Data Availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information file and available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Originlab for providing a free student edition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Material Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam

    Kien Trung Nguyen, Bac Quang Nguyen, Chuc Ngoc Pham, Dung Trung Doan, Chi Thi Ha Nguyen & Nhiem Ngoc Dao

  2. Cao Bang Department of Industry and Trade, 108 Hoang Van Thu, Cao Bang City, Cao Bang, 210000, Vietnam

    Hoan Thanh Nguyen & Que Anh Nguyen

  3. Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam

    Bac Quang Nguyen & Nhiem Ngoc Dao

  4. Institute of Geography, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam

    Lim Thi Duong

  5. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, 1 Dai Co Viet, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam

    Hoa Anh Bui

  6. Institute of Technology, Vietnam Directorate of Defense Industry, Duc Thang Ward, Bac Tu Liem District, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam

    Thuat Ngoc Pham

  7. Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1B TL29 Str, Ho Chi Minh, 700000, Vietnam

    Du Duy Bui

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  1. Kien Trung Nguyen
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Nguyen, K.T., Nguyen, H.T., Nguyen, B.Q. et al. Structures and Reduction Kinetics of Pelletized Rich Iron Ores for Iron Production: a Case Study for Na Rua Iron Ore in Vietnam. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 39, 1779–1792 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-022-00646-5

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