Pelletisation of High LOI and High Blaine Number Iron Ore Concentrate

The process involves studying of heating cycle segments like drying, indurating and cooling using high LOI and High Blaine number fine iron ore concentrate.  MOU has been signed with M/s L&T, Kolkata for development of commercial capacity pellet plant.  

The Indian iron makers are sifting their  focus from sinter intensive blast furnace operation to pellet oriented operation to utilize micro-fines concentrate. Adoption of suitable pelletisation technology of varying capacity is necessary to encourage meeting specific needs with respect to availability and type of iron ore fines/concentrate in the country. The Indian hematite iron ore concentrate maintains high LOI because of the presence of kaolinite, goethite and gibbsite even after beneficiation process. As this ore is in fragile nature, the Blaine number of pellet feed material is high. To maximize the iron values from the slimes and tailings, flotation process may be adopted in future. It provides the hydrophobic characteristic on the surface of the particles, which has negative impact on pelletisation.  Iron ore concentrate having high LOI, high Blaine and hydrophobic surface particles are taken a feed for making pellets. It needs to improve the heating cycle of induration segment of the present pelletisation technology either grate kiln or straight grate processes through fundamental studies. 

• Utilisation of high LOI, high Blaine and hydrophobic surface particles 
• Cost effective process
• Indigenous pelletisation technology with respect to Indian ore characteristics