REMOVAL OF SULFUR FROM IRON ORE WITH PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL METHODS

Abstract

In this study, sulfur was removed from Kahramanmaras Elbistan iron ore which has a high sulfur content by application of microwave and chemical methods (H₂SO₄ /H₂O₂) together. Low-grade iron ore with a high sulfur content constitutes a significant bottleneck especially in technical applications. Various physical and chemical methods for removal of sulfur from a high sulfur content iron ore are applied. However, the sulfur removal process must be economical to be applicable reasonably. Therefore, both physical and chemical methods of removal of sulfur were investigated in this study. In the first part of this study, iron ore was heated to a high temperature by microwave to decompose pyritic sulfur, which is one of the sulfur species in the ore (FeS₂), into sulfur dioxide (SO₂), ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄) and pyrrhotite in (FeS). Then, the ore obtained by this process was extracted (leaching) with H₂SO₄/H₂O₂ solution at a determined concentration.  The highest sulfur removal was obtained at 2.75 GHz and 900W microwave heating time of 210 sec and 0.03 N H₂SO₄/10% H₂O₂ treatment conditions at 60 min reaction time and ambient conditions. According to the obtained results, removal of sulfur content of the iron ore was not significantly affected at high microwave power, high H₂SO₄ and H₂O₂ concentration and high temperature conditions. By applying microwave and chemical methods (H₂SO₄/H₂O₂) together sulfur content of iron ore  was removed approximately 84%.

References

1. 2003, Demir-Çelik Sektörü, Birleşik Metal İşçileri Sendikası, Birleşik Metal-İş Yayınları , Sayı: 2, İstanbul.
2. 2001, Sekizinci Beş Yıllık Kalkınma Planı, Madencilik ÖİK Raporu Metal Madenler Alt Komisyonu Demir Çalışma Grubu Raporu, Ankara.
3. Socha, L., Michalek, K., Bazan, J., GRY, K., Machovc P., OPLERE, A., STYRNAL, P., 2014, Svaluation of Influence of Briquetted Synthetic Slags on Slags Regime and Process of Steel Desulphurization, Archives of Metallurgy and Material, Volume: 59, Page: 809.
4. Toroman Ö.Y., Depçi, T., 2007, Kömürde Mikrodalga ile Önişlem Uygulamaları, Madencilik, Cilt: 46, Sayı: 3, Sayfa: 43.
5. Jarjoni, E., Rezai, B., Vossoughi, M., Osanloo, M., 2004, Desulfurization of Tabascoal with Microwaveirration/Peroxyaceticacid Washing at 25 oC and 55 oC, Fuel, Volume:83, Page: 943.
6. Uslu, T., Atalay, Ü., Microwaveheating of Coal for Enhanced Magnetic Removal of Pyrite, 2003, Fuel Processing Technology, Volume: 85, Page: 21.
7. Asmatülü, R., İpekoğlu, B., 1995, Desulphurization of Coal at Coal by Using Sequebtial Process, İstanbul Üniversitesi Mühendislik Fakültesi Yerbilimleri Dergisi, Cilt: 9, Sayı: 2, Sayfa: 85.
8. Karaca, H., 1993, Bazı Türk Linyitlerinden Kül ve Kükürdün Birlikte Giderilmesinde Optimum Şartların Belirlenmesi, Yüksek Lisans Tezi, İnönü Üniversitesi, Malatya.

9. Karaca, H., Ceylan, K., 1995, Chemical cleaning of Turkish lignites by leaching with aqueous hydrogen peroxide, Fuel Processing Technology, Volume: 50, Page: 19.