Effect of colloidal agents in iron ore pelletizing

ABSTRACT

Organic binders have been used to replace bentonite in the pelletizing process of iron ore. In this research, colloidal agents were evaluated in a pelletizing process comparing their influence with the behavior of Peridur® and bentonite. Bench tests were carried out to identify the effects of binders and dispersant on the dispersion degree of mixtures, and their influence on the liberation/flocculation of fine particles. The results show that the dispersant acts on the fine particle content of the iron ore by removing ultrafine particles that are adhered to the surface of coarse particles, making the ultrafine available to the medium.

KEYWORDS:

• Pelletizing
• Binder
• Dispersant
• Colloidal agent

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank FAPESP––the State of São Paulo Research Foundation for the financial support to this project under the Faps_Vale call.