Factors influencing particulate emissions during iron ore sintering

Controlling particulate emission from a sinter strand is important to minimizing its impact on the environment. Several factors influencing particulate emission from an iron ore sinter strand were investigated in the current work using a laboratory scale sinter pot. A blend fairly typical of that currently used in the Asia Pacific region, as well as another containing 30 mass% Marra Mamba ore that could represent a future ore blend were used. It was established that most of the particulates emitted were less than 1.18mm and were mostly from the calcination and dried zones of the bed. In addition, most particulates were released from the bed after the wet zone in the bed had ceased to exist. This work suggests mix moisture and coke rate had a significant impact on particulate emissions. Increasing moisture from 5.5 to 9.0 mass% decreased particulate emission while increasing coke content from 5.5 to 7.5 mass% increased particulate emission. Therefore when altering the ore blend changes in mix moisture and coke rate may also need to be accounted for when evaluating the impact on particulate emission. It was also found that particulate emission could be decreased by decreasing sintering suction just before burn-through.