Sinter Basicity Increase Through Insertion of Magnesium Silicate Minilumps

by Alba Fernandez, Pamela Diaz, Esteban Ruisanchez, Javier Martinez

Publisher - Pasek Minerales S.A.U., Spain

Category - General Novel

PASEK Dunite is an ultramaphic rock with a basic chemical classification, being olivine its principal mineral. It is used as a flux in ironmaking due to its physical and chemical properties, improving permeability, productivity, alkali removal and reducing energy consumption in the blast furnace. Regarding the global tendency of integrated plants to avoid as many raw materials as possible in the sinter, many plants are taking measures such as maximizing the Fe through the sinter, avoiding additional SiO2 and increasing basicity. PASEK Dunite is mostly used as a lump flux, nevertheless, plants which face logistical constraints have looked for alternatives to profit from the benefit of using lumpy Dunite. The introduction through the sinter has been evaluated using Minilumps, obtaining a stronger sinter which allows productivity increase by reducing the return fines and improving permeability in the BF. This method may help plants introduce MgO in the most effective way. Several tests performed showed that Dunite effectively sticks to the sinter matrix and have a significant percentage of inert material which does not influence sinter composition and quality, reaching the BF as a lump. Several grain sizes of PASEK Dunite could be used depending on the aim of each plant.

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