Separation and recovery of iron from a low-grade carbonate-bearing iron ore using magnetizing roasting followed by magnetic separation

ABSTRACT

In this study, a process of magnetizing roasting followed by low-intensity magnetic separation (MR-LMS), which is used to separate and recover iron from a low-grade carbonate-bearing iron ore (containing 34.6 wt.% Fe), was investigated. A magnetic concentrate containing 65.4 wt.% Fe with an iron recovery rate of 92.6 wt.% was obtained under optimal conditions: roasting temperature of 800°C, roasting time of 8 min, bitumite ratio of 10:100, grinding fineness of around 85 wt.% passing 38 µm, and magnetic intensity of 0.12 T. In addition, the phase transformation and magnetic properties were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) to reveal the mechanism.

KEYWORDS:

• Carbonate
• hematite
• low-grade carbonate-bearing iron ore
• magnetic separation
• magnetizing roasting

Funding

The authors are grateful for the financial support provided to this project by the National Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51674064 and 51674065) and the Fundamental Research Funds for National University (Grant No. N140108001 and N150106003).

Additional information

Funding

The authors are grateful for the financial support provided to this project by the National Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51674064 and 51674065) and the Fundamental Research Funds for National University (Grant No. N140108001 and N150106003).