Research of the production of iron ore sinter from bauxite processing waste

This article presents the results of a study of the agglomeration of waste alumina ferrous sands and the use of sinter as a substitute for metal charge in steelmaking. At this time, in the process of processing bauxite, JSC "Aluminium of Kazakhstan" produces a large number of fines, which is of great interest to ferrous metallurgy. Wastes from alumina production include a variety of waste sludge, including red, gray sludge, and ferrous sands. According to the chemical composition, ferrous sands can be attributed to iron ore material with a high content of alumina. Most of these problems are eliminated by preliminary agglomeration of fines. In this work, agglomeration studies made it possible to establish the optimal parameters for sintering ferrous sands. When using 10% fuel, the best sintering performance is achieved. The optimal parameters for sintering ferrous sands mixed with other metallurgical wastes are such as productivity - 0.92 t / m2 h, mechanical strength - 80.0%, sintering speed - 19.3 mm/min, yield - 82.0%, the maximum temperature in the layer is 1340 °С. The results of laboratory melt carried out in an induction melting furnace indicate the possibility of using a sinter as a substitute for metal charge in iron and steel smelting. The conducted melting confirms the fundamental possibility of using a sinter, made from waste products of alumina production of ferrous sands, is a man-made charge material that is suitable for use as a 5% additive to the metal charge in the smelting of iron-carbon alloys similar in composition to cast irons.