Characterization and reduction behavior of carbon-infiltrated goethite ore by impregnation of tar recovered from coke oven gas

The Iron/Steel industry is currently facing serious problem due to excessively dependent on metallurgical coke, which is produced a large amount of CO2 emission and it was limited source in Indonesia. Coke-free iron-making is one of the efficient method to reduce the amount of cokes. Carbon-infiltrated iron ores were prepared by impregnation process from coaltar solution and goethite ore at 500 oC and 600 oC to promote direct reduction in iron making. These variables were systematically characterized by XRD and SEM/EDX. Pore distribution and BET surface area were determined by N2 adsorption-desorption measurement. The XRD signals attributed to Fe2O3 in the goethite ore were completely disappeared and replaced by signals attributed to Fe3O4 after impregnation process. Cross-sectional analyses of composite particles prepared using both temperatures showed that tar-derived carbonaceous materials have completely either impregnated or vapor infiltrated into the mesoporous in pyrolyzed goethite ore. Carbon-infiltrated goethite ore showed a higher reduction degree than conventional coke. It is confirmed that high reactivity of carbon-infiltrated iron ores is due to close contact between the goethite ore and carbon in its nanoporous interior facilitated the fast reduction.