Low temperature briquette of fines bearing iron and other metals

Abstract

A method for processing fines bearing iron or other metals, such as manganese, bauxite, boron, chromium, iron-nickel and/or ferrous slags, from various possible sources, possibly with the addition of self-reducing agents and other minerals for chemical adjustment, with particle size up to 6.3 mm (through ¼ inch sieve), directly into the intense mixer, with a set of binders in specific proportions, aiming to optimize physical and metallurgical properties of the briquettes with minimal binder addition, thus not compromising the quality of steel or other metal products. The binders are starch, sodium silicate and a base such as sodium hydroxide. The mixture with adjusted moisture content goes through a conventional briquetting roller press. The green briquettes then undergo drying with forced air at around 150° C. for a short time, or at ambient temperature for a longer time. The briquettes obtained have excellent metallurgical properties, and sufficient physical resistance for handling and transport, without the high and undesirable economic and environmental costs of the hot briquetting process.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.