REDUCIBILITY STUDIES ON PELLETS PRODUCED FROM NIGERIAN IRON ORES

Abstract

The reducibility studies on the produced pellets from Itakpe and Agbaja iron ore blends were carried out. The chemical, morphology and structural analysis of the ores were examined using Thermogravimetry (TG), Differential Thermal Analyzer (DTA), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Optical and Electron Microscopy showing the microstructure of the pellets and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS).The reducibility studies were performed using a muffle furnace. The produced pellets were taken inside stainless steel containers with diameter 60.75 mm x 59.40 mm inside diameter with  mouths tightly closed by an air tight cover having an outlet for exit gas , The SEM and EDS tests  were performed to study the morphology of the pellets .The reduced pellets  at 800oC for 120mins gave an iron(Fe) value of 4.5 wt% ,  at 920oC for 120mins, iron content(Fe) value obtained was 84.5wt%  and at  1000oC and 120mins the iron (Fe) content  value was 6.4wt% while the selected samples of the pellets from Agbaja iron ore at the same temperatures were 800oC for 120mins, the iron(Fe) content was 40.7wt%, at 920oC for 120mins, the iron (Fe) content value was 60.2wt% and at 1000oC for 120 mins the iron (Fe) content was 56.2wt% . The Itakpe pellets exhibited better reducibility than the Agbaja pellets when subjected to the same conditions.