Reduction mechanisms of pyrite cinder-carbon composite pellets

The non-isothermal reduction mechanisms of pyrite cinder-carbon composite pellets were studied at laboratory scale under argon (Ar) atmosphere. The composite pellets as well as the specimens of separate layers containing pyrite cinder and coal were tested. The degree of reduction was measured by mass loss. The microstructures of the reduced composite pellets were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It is found that the reduction processes of the composite pellets may be divided into four stages:reduction via CO and H₂ from volatiles in coal at 673-973 K, reduction via H₂ and C produced by cracking of hydrocarbon at 973-1123 K, direct reduction by carbon via gaseous intermediates at 1123-1323 K, and direct reduction by carbon at above 1323 K. Corresponding to the four stages, the apparent activation energies (E) for the reduction of the composite pellets are 86.26, 78.54, 72.01, and 203.65 kJ·mol^-1, respectively.