SELECTIVE REDUCTION OF IRON FROM IRON–MANGANESE ORE USING HYDROGEN

Аннотация

The results of the study indicate that the iron–manganese ore is characterized by a complex mineralogical composition comprising Fe-, Mn-, and Si-bearing oxides as well as complex aluminosilicate phases. X-ray diffraction (XRD) of the as-received material confirmed goethite (FeO(OH)), hematite (Fe₂O₃), quartzite (SiO₂), and manganese dioxide (MnO₂) as the dominant phases.

During oxidative roasting, goethite underwent dehydroxylation with the formation of hematite, and the emergence of Mn₂O₃ and Mn₃O₄ phases was also identified. The formation of Mn₇SiO₁₂ indicates high-temperature interaction between manganese species and silica, suggesting the development of solid-state synthesis processes in the Mn–Si–O system.

Thus, hydrogen proved to be an efficient and environmentally benign reductant, enabling selective iron reduction at relatively low temperatures. The reduced metal and the oxide residue can be separated by smelting or magnetic separation, which opens prospects for developing processing flowsheets for Kazakhstan’s iron–manganese ores with minimal environmental impact.