PRODUCTION OF CRUDE FERRONICKEL FROM SIVRIHISAR LATERITE ORES OF TURKEY


KESKİNKILIÇ E., Pournaderi S., GEVECİ A., TOPKAYA Y. A.

4th International Symposium on High-Temperature Metallurgical Processing held during the 142nd TMS Annual Meeting and Exhibition, San-Antonio, Northern Mariana Islands, 3 - 07 March 2013, pp.453-460 identifier

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
  • City: San-Antonio
  • Country: Northern Mariana Islands
  • Page Numbers: pp.453-460
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In the current work, laboratory-scale smelting experiments were conducted using Sivrihisar laterites (1.26% Ni). The ore samples previously subjected to drying, calcination and prereduction stages were smelted in alumina crucibles in a horizontal tube furnace under argon atmosphere. For the smelting system used in the present work, 1550 degrees C and 40 minutes were determined to be the optimum smelting temperature and time, respectively. 25% excess coal addition in prereduction stage was reported to be crucial to obtain the desired Ni content in the final product. Colemanite in calcined form has long been known as a flux used in pyrometallurgical systems such as steelmaking and copper matte-smelting. To investigate the effects of calcined colemanite addition on the ferronickel metal-slag system, calcined colemanite of 2% and 4% of the total metal and slag weight was charged as a flux and smelted under the optimum conditions described above.