Petroleum coke as reductant in co-reduction of low-grade laterite ore and red mud to prepare ferronickel: Reductant and reduction effects

• Published in: International journal of minerals, metallurgy and materials metallurgy and materials, 2022-03, Vol.29 (3), p.455-463
• Main Authors: Guo, Xiaoshuang, Li, Zhengyao, Han, Jicai, Yang, Dong, Sun, Tichang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthracite; Carbon; Ceramics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Coke; Composites; Corrosion and Coatings; Ferronickel; Glass; Industrial wastes; Iron; Laterites; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Mud; Natural Materials; Nickel; Petroleum; Petroleum coke; Production costs; Raw materials; Red mud; Reducing agents; Scanning electron microscopy; Scientific imaging; Solid wastes; Spectrometry; Sulfur content; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; Tribology
• ISSN: 1674-4799; 1869-103X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12613-021-2389-9

Petroleum coke is industrial solid wastes and its disposal and storage has been a great challenge to the environment. In this study, petroleum coke was utilized as a novel co-reduction reductant of low-grade laterite ore and red mud. A ferronickel product of 1.98wt% nickel and 87.98wt% iron was obtained with 20wt% petroleum coke, when the roasting temperature and time was 1250°C and 60 min, respectively. The corresponding recoveries of nickel and total iron were 99.54wt% and 95.59wt%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy—energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM—EDS) analysis showed metallic nickel and iron mainly existed in the form of ferronickel particles which distributed uniformly at a size of approximately 30 µm with high purity. This study demonstrated that petroleum coke is a promising reductant in the co-reduction of laterite ore and red mud. Compared to other alternatives, petroleum coke is advantageous with reduced production cost and high applicability in anthracite-deficient areas.