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Optimization of Physico-chemical Properties of Undersize Fractions of Manganese Ores for the Production of Mn Sinter
Ing. Zuzana Miškovičová, PhD.1; prof. Ing. Jaroslav Legemza, PhD.1; doc. Ing. Róbert Findorák, PhD.1; doc. Ing. Branislav Buľko, PhD.1; Ing. Patrik Fedorko1; doc. Ing. Peter Demeter, PhD.1; Ing. Slavomír Hubatka, PhD.1; Ing. Lukáš Fogaraš, PhD.1; Ing. Jaroslav Demeter, PhD.1
1TECHNICKÁ UNIVERZITA V KOŠICIACH, Fakulta materiálov metalurgie a recyklácie, Inštitút metalurgických technológií a digitálnej transformácie, Letná 1/9, 042 00 Košice, zuzana.miskovicova@tuke.sk
Undersize fractions of manganese ores generated during mining, transportation, and screening represent a significant secondary source of manganese. Despite their relatively high Mn content, these fine fractions cannot be directly charged into electric arc furnaces for ferroalloy production due to reduced charge permeability, increased partial pressure of CO, and the resulting rise in energy consumption of the process.
The aim of the article is to characterize the physicochemical properties of undersize fractions of Mn ores from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Gabon and to propose their optimization for the production of Mn sinters. The results confirmed significant differences in chemical composition, particularly in Mn and SiO₂ contents, which substantially influenced the sintering process and the properties of the produced sinters.
Optimization of the charge by adding dolomite, return sinter, and Gabon Mn ore led to an increase in Mn content, a decrease in SiO₂, an increase in basicity, and improvements in mechanical strength and reducibility. Agglomeration proved to be an effective method for valorizing fine fractions of manganese ores for FeSiMn production.
Key words: Mn ore; optimization; Mn sinter; reducibility; physico-chemical properties