Abstract:
This study evaluated the synergistic use of volatiles from sugarcane bagasse (SB) and iron ore tailings (IOT) aiming to reduce iron oxides, carbon deposition and H2 production. The experiments were carried out at 400, 600, 800 and 1000ºC, with heating rates of 10 and 30ºC/min and different SB/IOT ratios, under an N2 atmosphere. The combination of 10ºC/min, 600ºC and excess biomass resulted in a product with 96.7% magnetite and 3.5% C deposited. The use of a smaller amount of SB in relation to IOT provided an increase in H2 yield. Heating the IOT and SB simultaneously up to 1000°C led to significant mineralogical transformations, resulting in more reduced phases such as wüstite, fayalite and metallic iron. It was found that 18.9% of Fe0 was formed when an excess of SB was used in relation to the IOT. The results demonstrate an alternative with potential for recovering iron from IOT and obtaining alternative raw materials for the steel industry.