Electrolytic iron production from alkaline suspensions of solid oxides: compared cases of hematite, iron ore and iron-rich Bayer process residues

Journal of Electrochemical Science and Engineering

Quentin Ricoux¹  Frederic Goettmann¹  Abdoulaye Maihatchi²  Francois Lapicque³  Marie-Noëlle Pons³ 

[1] Extracthive, Centre de Recherche CEA, Bat. 51, 30591 Marcoule;Reaction and Chemical Engineering Laboratory, CNRS-University of Lorraine, 1 rue Grandville, 54000 Nancy and Extracthive, Centre de Recherche CEA, Bat. 51, 30591 Marcoule;Reaction and Chemical Engineering Laboratory, CNRS-University of Lorraine, 1 rue Grandville, 54000 Nancy;

关键词: Iron production;    electrodeposition;    iron ores;    red mud;    surface reactivity;   

DOI  :  10.5599/jese.751

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Iron can be produced by the direct electrochemical reduction of hematite particles suspended in hot, concentrated NaOH solutions. Because various other iron sources can be considered, the present work was aimed at investigating the electrolytic treatment of the “red mud” generated by the Bayer process for alumina preparation from bauxite. Such sources contain very high amounts of impurities, in particular silicon and aluminium oxide-based minerals, in addition to other mineral phases. Electrolytic reductive treatment of the industrial red mud sample was shown to be possible but with both lower current density and current efficiency than for pure hematite. After deposition tests at a fixed current density, further experiments in simulation tests have been carried out for better understanding. In particular, hematite particles were tested with and without impurities introduced in the solution. Presence of little soluble impurities at the particle surface appear to hinder the reactivity of the suspended particles at the cathode surface, whereas side-hydrogen reaction still occurs.

【 授权许可】

Unknown