Iron nugget formation from iron sand/coal composite pellets under isothermal-temperature gradient profiles

An iron sand concentrate was mixed with coal as the reductant and binder to produce a composite pellet by a mini rotating disc. The pellet was inserted into an alumina crucible and coal was added to maintain the reducing environment by covering the whole surface of the pellet. The reduction was carried out under the isothermal and temperature gradient profile in a muffle furnace where the starting temperature was isothermal at 1000°C, increased with a heating rate of 6.33°C min⁻¹ to a final temperature of 1380°C. The results show that the total iron content increased from 46.9% in the initial pellet to 72.5% in the reduced pellet. The iron nugget formed on the surface of the reduced pellet at 1380°C. The nugget primarily consisted of iron, and the slag mostly consisted of anatase or brookite. The titanium content increased from 4.8% in the initial pellet to 24.4% in the slag.