REDUCTION RATES OF MANGANESE ORE PELLETS WITH HYDROGEN.

Manganese ores from Dongri Buzurg and Kanhan, Nagpur were studied using thermogravimetric techniques with hydrogen as the reducing gas. The experiments covered a temperature range of 700 to 900 degree C, and time of reduction from 10 to 60 minutes. The influence of these operating variables on the rates of reduction, porosity, shrinkage and the strength of the pellets was determined. During experimentation, it was observed that the rates of reduction increased with increase in temperature and flow rate of the reducing gas. Manganese content of the reduced pellet was found to increase from 55 to 68% in the case of Dongri Buzurg Ore and from 50 to 62% in Kanhan Ore. Percentage of shrinkage was increased with increase in the temperature of reduction. The presence of different types of phases was identified with X-ray diffractometric and microscopic studies.