Production of ferro-nickel granules from nickel laterite ore/coal composite briquettes by direct reduction

Ferro-nickel granules were produced from nickel laterite ore/coal composite briquettes by high-temperature direct reduction.The effects of roasting temperature,roasting time,C/O(carbon/oxygen) molar ratio and flux amount on the grades and recovery rates of nickel and iron as well as on the quality of ferro-nickel granules were studied.The grades of nickel and total iron in the granules are 9.4% and 87.5% and the recovery rates of nickel and iron are 96.6% and 97.9%,respectively,when the roasting temperature is 1350℃,the C/O molar ratio is 1.4,the roasting time is 60min,and the limestone amount is 20%.The ferro-nickel granules were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS).The results show that nickel and iron basically exist in alloy state,and carbon is solid-soluted in the alloy.