| dc.description.abstract | A method of concentrating iron in laterites to make the iron extraction process economical is
disclosed. Concentration using biomass yields higher levels of iron by using appropriate ratio of
biomass: laterites. The concentration of iron in the laterites was done by heating a laterite/charcoal
mixture in the temperature range 500-700oC in a ceramic container, a slow current of air (0.5-
0.7cm3/sec) was passed thus generating carbon monoxide in-situ. The process involves cooling and
picking iron containing mineral. The optimum ratio of biomass: laterite was found to be 1 :20 by mass.
The iron in the raw laterites is predominantly minerals goethite, FeO.OH and haematite, Fe203, as
shown by presence of peaks at diffraction angles of 28 = 21.51 ° and 28 = 54.11 °respectively. After
magnet-separation iron was present predominantly as the mineral, magnetite Fe304, with diffraction
peak at 28 = 36°. The percentage of iron in the magnet-separated product is increased to 55-62%. | en_US |
