Processing and Characterization of Self-Reducing Briquettes Made of Jarosite and Blast Furnace Sludges

Jarosite sludge coming from the hydrometallurgical zinc production route is a hazardous material, which is currently neutralized and landfilled by the so-called Jarofix (R) process. The present study aims to assess the mechanical and metallurgical properties of briquettes made of jarosite powder with blast furnace sludges, acting as a reductant material, to recover the iron oxide in the form of pig iron and produce an inert slag, increasing the recovery of materials considered as wastes nowadays. Starch was used as a binder (0, 5, 10 wt%), and two different briquetting pressure levels were used (20 and 40 MPa). The results show that briquetting without a binder is not desirable, as the agglomerating forces provided by pressure only are not sufficient, as the briquettes are very fragile and not handy. The binder addition increased noticeably the briquettes resistance, however, only little distinction between the 5 and 10 wt% levels were seen. The briquetting pressure, on the other hand, showed a bigger role on the cold mechanical properties of the bound briquettes. The briquettes pressed at 40 MPa reached an average compressive strength higher than 12 MPa and good abrasion and drop resistance were seen, also showing that their production with starch as a binder is feasible. A special remark is done regarding the roasting treatment of the jarosite powder before the briquetting process, as an undesirable compound (thenardite) was formed within some briquettes due to a non-uniform heating of the powder, which hindered the briquettes mechanical properties. Metallurgical properties open the possibility to use such briquettes for iron production in cupola furnaces.