Reduction of Microwave Irradiated Iron Ore Particles in CO

The effect of microwave (2.45 GHz) pre-treatment on the reduction of magneto-hematite ore particles in CO was investigated. It was found that the presence of magnetite in the ore has considerable effect on the microwave treatment and that the oxidation of the goethite, present in the ore, is obtained after the magneto-hematite grains are almost entirely oxidized to hematite. The results of the reduction tests show that microwave treatment enhances reduction but benefit optima exist. In the present ore optimum reduction was obtained for an irradiation of 6 min at a power level of 1 300 W. It is also shown that in addition to a reducibility gain post-reduction strength and decrepitation were likewise improved by microwave treatment.