DEVELOPMENT OF A PYROMETALLURGICAL TECHNOLOGY FOR PROCESSING SYNTHETIC PYROLUSITE AND CH EM. ISORPTION MANGANESE OXIDE CONCENTRATE INTO METALLIC MANGANESE AND LOW-CARBON FERROALLOYS

This paper describes a new pyrometallurgical technology for producing manganese ferroalloys from a new type of manganese materials - i.e. chemical concentrates. such as synthetic pyrolusite and chemisorption concentrate, which are produced from low-grade manganese material through pyrometallurgical processing. Two processes are described: a silicothermal process of producing low-carbon manganese in an electric furnace and an aluminothermic process of producing metallic manganese. A simple process, a high reaction rate, the possibility to set up a continuous process and feasibility in the current market environment all indicate that the aluminothermic process is likely to be adopted by the industry. Metallic manganese, the product of the aluminothermic process. is used in the production of alloyed steels and special-purpose manganese alloys. The possibility to use slag as clinker adds to the cost-effectiveness of this process.