Akpafu-Todzi ironmaking industry - the past, present and future

摘要

Iron ore exist in Akpafu-Todzi in the Volta Region of Ghana. The ancestors of the land made iron implement from iron ore, which they dug from the mountain they leaved on, using self-built furnace for the ironmaking and forge where most implements were manufactured. A geological survey carried out in the year 1975 by Kesse and Banson and various account from historians and old folks of the community confirmed the existence of iron ore and ironmaking industries. The inhabitants of the community have abandoned their ancestor’s trade due to lack of sophisticated tools and techniques to help improve the trade. However, current research has shown the potential of rejuvenating the ironmaking industry in this area. Assay of the Apkafu-Todzi iron ore shows the ore is of low-grade haematite with an average grade of about 44 wt Fe2O3 and free of deleterious elements. Reduction studies carried out have shown that the iron ore could be successfully reduced into iron nuggets using waste polymers and its blends as reductants. The measured extent of reduction from the reduction studies were recorded to be above 70% which is considered to be high judging from the fact that the reduction was carried out in an oxygen atmosphere. This review summarises the established waste polymer based reduction process and presents a critical review of the current capabilities of utilising mixed plastics waste (MPW) and refuse derived fuels (RDF) in ironmaking. Further discussions are made on possible future strategies and challenges anticipated in rejuvenating Akpafu-Todzi ironmaking industry