Process for the production of iron ore fines agglomerate and the agglomerated product

A process for producing iron ore fines agglomerates for metallic load replacement in reduction furnaces comprising:

• a) mixing a nanomaterial, a catalyst and sodium silicate for preparing a binder mixture;
• b) mixing 1-5% of the binder mixture with 70-99% iron ore fines, 0-30% fluxes and 0-5% plasticizer in an intensive mixer to provide a mixture;
• c) adjusting a moisture content of the mixture to 0-30% of water by weight of the mixture;
• d) performing agglomeration by pelletizing, briquetting or extrusion to provide agglomerates;
• e) keeping the agglomerates at room temperature for 2-10 days for curing;
• wherein:
• 0.05 to 2% by weight of the nanomaterial relative to the sodium silicate is used;
• 1.5 to 3.5% by weight of the catalyst relative to the sodium silicate is used;
• the catalyst consists of calcium hydroxide or sodium pyrophosphate or propylene carbonate;
• the process is free of fossil fuels;
• and
• the fluxes consist of calcitic limestone or dolomitic limestone or serpentinite or calcium hydroxide.