Assessment of evolution of loss on ignition matter during heating of iron ores

Ironmaking involves reduction of iron ores to metallic iron using coke, coal or gas as reductants. Although different iron ore reduction processes exist, prior to each reduction type, commonly, the hydroxyl and clay materials present in the iron ores undergo decomposition as a first stage. The mass loss during decomposition of these materials is termed as Loss on Ignition (LOI). The aim of this work is to apply a computer aided thermoanalytical technique to evaluate five different iron ore types during decomposition of the LOI matter and determine associated decomposition temperature ranges and heats of reactions. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) were also incorporated to support the analysis interpretation. Three distinctive temperature ranges of decomposition of iron ore LOI matter were detected. The first region was associated with dehydration of the hygroscopic moisture at a temperature range between 100 and 150 °C. The second region occurred at a temperature range between 260 and 425 °C during which strongly bonded water was released and the OH groups associated with primarily iron oxyhydroxides were fractured. The third range, which occurred at a temperature range of 530 and 605 °C, was related to decomposition of the aluminosilicate clay materials.