METHOD FOR PRODUCING GRANULAR METAL IRON

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing granular metal iron by which high quality granular metal iron can be produced at high yield by optimizing the physical states in an adhesion inhibiting material leveling apparatus, an agglomerate leveling apparatus and a discharge apparatus and on a hearth, thereby achieving single-layer placing of agglomerates to perform uniform heating.SOLUTION: In a method for producing granular metal iron, agglomerates containing an iron oxide-containing substance and a carbonaceous reduction agent are supplied on an adhesion inhibiting material while being leveled in a flat form, the adhesion inhibiting material being supplied onto a hearth of a moving bed-type hearth reduction-melting furnace while being leveled, the agglomerates are subjected to reduction melting, and an obtained granular metal iron is discharged using a screw-type discharge apparatus. In the method, the adhesion inhibiting material supplied onto the hearth is leveled using a screw-type adhesion inhibiting material leveling apparatus so that a flatness of the adhesion inhibiting material is equal to or less than 40% of an average grain size of the agglomerates, and also the agglomerates supplied onto the adhesion inhibiting material are uniformly placed in a single layer using a screw-type agglomerates leveling apparatus.