The effect of particle size on green pellet properties of iron ore fines

Recently, the grade of iron ore deposits has deteriorated and further development of low grade deposits is desired. Presently, the most effective and often followed route taken to utilize such deposits is the provision of beneficiation plants for upgrading iron ore and pelletizing plants for agglomerating. The iron ore fines cannot be directly used in the blast furnace as they severely reduce the permeability of the blast furnace bed and bring down the efficiency of the furnace. To overcome this, agglomeration of high grade iron ore fines is done to serve as blast furnace burden. Both the beneficiation and pelletization techniques are key process in utilization of low grade iron ores. This study deals with the beneficiation and agglomeration of the low grade iron ore; up to the extent such that it becomes an ideal blast furnace feed. Effect of particle size on pellet quality during pellet making has also been aimed and studied along with the development of flowsheet for beneficiation of low grade iron ore.