The utilisation of iron ore fines : Technical options and challenges

This paper presents the scenario of its current use by sinter and pellet industry. It also gives the factors which are considered to utilize the ore fines eg. chemical analysis, energy use, equipment requirement and scope of product use. The R & D work done in India has resulted the development of various products utilizing waste fines from mines and steel plant. These technologies which are under development, eg fluxed pellet, hollow pellet, CPR Pellet, Fluxed DRI, Iron Granules and Iron Cake, are described in this paper. It has been concluded in the paper that India is a leading iron ore producer in the world and has enough potential to use its own resources. The present sinter and pellet plant capacities can be enhanced much further along with assessment for the viability of exploiting the in house emerging technologies. The potential technology may be promoted through pilot trials in India.