Process for the production of high purity iron powder
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorMiro F. Kowbuz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The removal of silica from an iron-bearing source which is treated to produce an iron powder which may be used in powder metallurgical applications may be facilitated by subjecting the reduced iron-bearing source such as magnetite to a sparge with an oxygen-containing gas such as oxygen or air prior to a caustic leach step. The sparge of the caustic-magnetite slurry is effected at ambient temperatures and pressures which may range from about 10 to about 1000 psi for a period of time ranging from about 0.1 to about 1 hour. By utilizing this sparge, the leaching capacity of the caustic leach solution appreciably increased.
Claims10
In a process for the recovery of metallic iron from an iron-bearing source which comprises the steps of:
- (a) grinding said iron-bearing source;
- (b) leaching the ground iron-bearing source in a caustic leach solution at an elevated temperature and pressure;
- (c) separating the impurities from the caustic leach residue;
- (d) reducing the iron in said caustic residue by treatment with hydrogen at an elevated temperature and pressure;
- (e) recovering the resultant metallic iron, the improvement which comprises subjecting said ground iron-bearing source in the caustic leach solution to a sparge with an oxygen-containing gas at sparging conditions prior to said caustic leach of said ground iron-bearing source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.