Non-isothermal reduction characteristics of roasted high alumina iron ore pellets

Non-isothermal reduction of roasted Guangxi high alumina iron ore pellets with CO and H₂ was conducted with high temperature synchronisation thermal analyser (NETZSCH STA 409C/CD) to understand the reduction characteristic of the ore. Chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction examination and scanning electron microscope analysis were adopted to analyse the roasted and reduced pellets. The results show that there are three main phases of Fe₂O₃, Al₂O₃ and Al₃Fe₅O₁₂ in the roasted pellets. During reduction process, the iron bonded in hercynite and fayalite is difficult to be reduced by CO so that the final reduction degree is only 35.62% at the setting temperature of 1573?K. But with H₂ atmosphere, the reduction degree can reach 100% at about 1520?K. It suggests that the ferric ion can completely be reduced to metallic iron by H₂.