Effects of Catalyst and Additive Containing Li, Na, or Ca on Reduction of Iron Oxide/Carbon Composite Pellets

The catalyst containing 0.69% (mass fraction) of Li⁺, Na⁺, or Ca²⁺ were synthesized, and the catalytic effect on the reduction of iron oxide/carbon composite pellets were investigated by comparing with that of additive at 850 ℃. The effect of the catalyst was greater than that of the additive, it can be considered that catalyst promoted the formation of iron nucleus early on reduction processes of iron oxide/carbon composite pellets. In addition, both effects of catalyst and additive increased after added carbon powder into the pellets, but the extent of increase decreased when the carbon powder exceeded a suitable content (about 4%), this amount is less than that of carbon needed theoretically on the reduction from hematite to iron.