Thermal Characteristic of Limonite Ore Upon Calcination and Reduction

摘要

Thermal characteristics of the limonite laterite ore types have been studied using TG/ DTA. There are four endothermic peaks at 250, 646, 900, and 1023 °C with a total mass loss of 10.07wt%. These four peaks correspond to the XRD results on samples calcined at 600-1000 °C. Analysis of TG/ DTA to the mixture of limonite and graphite showed two endothermic reaction peaks at 641 and 900 °C and an exothermic peak at 1180 °C. Reduction of the limonite-graphite mixture was done by heating at 800-1100 °C for 1 hour, and the reduced samples were analyzed using XRD. The results indicate that the reduction process proceed completely at higher temperatures, indicated by the increasing intensity of kamacite and Fe metal phase, and the decrease of peak intensity of carbon due to reaction with metal oxides. At 1100 °C, intensity of Fe-metal decreased due to sintering of Fe which may occur because the temperature was too high.