Study of Certain Parameters in Laboratory-Scale Smelting of Sivrihisar Laterite Ores of Turkey


Keskinkiliç E., POURNADERİ S., Geveci A., Topkaya Y. A.

TMS Annual Meeting, 3rd International Symposium on High Temperature Metallurgical Processing, Orlando, Florida, United States Of America, 11 - 15 March 2012, pp.491-498

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
  • City: Orlando, Florida
  • Country: United States Of America
  • Page Numbers: pp.491-498
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Conventional ferronickel smelting has five main steps: Drying, calcination, prereduction, smelting and refining. In the scope of the current work, smelting experiments were conducted using Sivrihisar laterite ores (1.26% Ni) of Turkey. The ore samples previously subjected to drying, calcination and prereduction stages were smelted in alumina crucibles in a laboratory-scale horizontal tube furnace under argon atmosphere. Smelting experiments were performed at 1500, 1550 and 1600°C. The amount of excess coal used in prereduction step was another variable. Sivrihisar laterite ore is a limonitic one with low MgO composition. Therefore, MgO was added to the smelting charge as a flux. The effects of experimental variables on metal Ni content and slag composition were investigated.