Kinetics and statistical behaviour of iron recovery from red mud using plasma arc furnace

Abstract

Study of the recovery of pig iron from dry red mud through plasma smelting has been done. The reductant used was graphite. Various fluxes were used for the formation of slag. The parameters varied were smelting time, basicity and concentration of reductant and fluxes. It was observed that the reduction kinetics improved progressively with the increase of all the variables up to certain level and on further increase the metal recovery decreased. The results were interpreted kinetically and rate determining step was evaluated. Multi Linear Regression Analysis studies were carried out. The variables were subjected to Principal Component Analysis. Four factors could explain 75.4% of the variables. Copyright © 2011 De Gruyter.