METHOD FOR EXPLOITING DUSTS GENERATED IN A FERRONICKEL PROCESS AND SINTERED PELLETS PRODUCED BY THE METHOD

摘要

To exploit dusts and fine ore generated in a ferronickel process, a pelletizing feed is produced from dusts and finely divided ore material. The pelletizing feed is pelletized to produce green pellets, which are sintered in a steel belt sintering furnace which comprises one or more zones for drying, heating, sintering and cooling of the pellets. The sintered pellets can be fed to a rotary kiln for pre-reduction of nickel and iron. Alternatively, the pellets can be fed to a ferronickel smelter together with pre-reduced laterite ore received from a rotary kiln. Optimal conditions for the sintering of ferronickel dust pellets have been determined.