This invention relates to a method of carbothermic process of magnesium production and co-production of calcium carbide, which is particularly suitable for carbothermic process of magnesium production with a mixture of magnesium oxide and calcium oxide as a raw material and carbon as a reducing agent. A mixed powder containing magnesium oxide, calcium oxide and a carbon reducing agent is prepared. The mixed powder is processed into a pelletized furnace feed material, which is placed into a reactor equipped with a heat source. With an absolute pressure P in the reactor being set within the range of 1000 Pa≤P≤atmospheric pressure or to a slightly positive pressure and a reaction temperature T within the range of 11 lg.sup.2P+71 lgP+1210° C.<T<98 lg.sup.2P-129 lgP+1300° C., a smelting reaction is run. Liquid magnesium is obtained through condensation by a condenser connected to the reactor, and after the smelting reaction has finished, calcium carbide is obtained within the reactor. With this method, a potential safety hazard in that a magnesium vapor produced during carbothermic magnesium production, when co-cooled with a CO gas, tends to give rise to a magnesium powder and cause an explosion can be completely avoided, and magnesium production cost can be significantly reduced. This method has a good prospect of industrial application.

An apparatus for thermally treating lithium ores and other mineral raw material may include a comminution apparatus, a pelletization apparatus, and a thermal treatment apparatus. The pelletization apparatus can be a mechanical fluidized bed reactor. Further, a process for thermally treating lithium ore and other mineral raw material may involve comminuting the mineral raw material in a comminution apparatus to form a first product, pelletizing the first product in a mechanical fluidized bed reactor to form a second product, and thermally treating the second product in a thermal treatment apparatus. Ninety percent of all particles in the second product may have a particle size between 50 μm and 500 μm.

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for producing composite pellets comprising a core comprising: iron ore and a carbonaceous reducing agent; and a shell comprising: iron ore; and having a core and shell transition in a manner such that no visible boundary exists between the core and the shell in a cross-section of the pellet. The methods can be used to produce composite pellets with improved productivity and quality, and the resulting composite pellets can be used to produce direct reduced iron (DRI).

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for producing composite pellets comprising a core comprising: iron ore and a carbonaceous reducing agent; and a shell comprising: iron ore; and having a core and shell transition in a manner such that no visible boundary exists between the core and the shell in a cross-section of the pellet. The methods can be used to produce composite pellets with improved productivity and quality, and the resulting composite pellets can be used to produce direct reduced iron (DRI).

The present invention addresses the problem, in methods for producing a metal or alloy by reducing a mixture that contains an oxide ore, of providing an oxide ore smelting method with good productivity and efficiency. The present invention is an oxide ore smelting method for producing a metal or alloy by reducing a mixture that contains an oxide ore, the method comprising at least: a mixing step S1 for mixing an oxide ore with a carbonaceous reducing agent; a mixture-molding step S2 for molding the mixture obtained to obtain a mixture-molded body; and a reducing step S3 for heating the mixture-molded body obtained at a specified reducing temperature in a reducing furnace.

Provided is a smelting method for producing metal by reducing a mixture that includes an oxide ore such as nickel oxide ore, wherein it is possible to improve productivity by raising the metal recovery rate as well as to inexpensively and efficiently produce high-quality metal. The present invention is a smelting method in which: an oxide ore and a carbonaceous reducing agent are mixed; the resulting mixture is heated and subjected to a reduction treatment; and metal and slag, which are reduction products, are obtained, wherein the reduction treatment is carried out in a state in which one or more surface deposits selected from carbonaceous reducing agents, metal oxides, and oxidation inhibitors are deposited on the surface of the mixture.

Provided is a smelting method for producing metal by reducing a mixture that includes an oxide ore such as nickel oxide ore, wherein it is possible to improve productivity by raising the metal recovery rate as well as to inexpensively and efficiently produce high-quality metal. The present invention is a smelting method in which: an oxide ore and a carbonaceous reducing agent are mixed; the resulting mixture is heated and subjected to a reduction treatment; and metal and slag, which are reduction products, are obtained, wherein the reduction treatment is carried out in a state in which one or more surface deposits selected from carbonaceous reducing agents, metal oxides, and oxidation inhibitors are deposited on the surface of the mixture.

A method of introducing a metalliferous feed in an ironmaking process, the method including the steps of, pre-drying an iron containing sludge by drying means to an amount of 15 to 30% (w/w) moisture, mixing the pre-dried iron containing sludge with a binder material to obtain a granulate, having a particle size of less than 4 millimeter and drying the granulate to a maximum of 3% (w/w) moisture, thereby forming the metalliferous feed, wherein the metalliferous feed is subsequently injected into a cyclone part of a metallurgical vessel.

A method of introducing a metalliferous feed in an ironmaking process, the method including the steps of, pre-drying an iron containing sludge by drying means to an amount of 15 to 30% (w/w) moisture, mixing the pre-dried iron containing sludge with a binder material to obtain a granulate, having a particle size of less than 4 millimeter and drying the granulate to a maximum of 3% (w/w) moisture, thereby forming the metalliferous feed, wherein the metalliferous feed is subsequently injected into a cyclone part of a metallurgical vessel.

A compacted ‘green’ briquette between 5 cm.sup.3 and 20 cm.sup.3 including, prior to reduction in a direct reduction process, a composition including at least 30% lignocellulosic biomass material by dry weight and at least 55% iron ore fines by weight, a density of between 1.4 g/cm.sup.3 and 2.0 g/cm.sup.3, and a compaction strength of at least 500N. A direct reduced iron briquette suitable for the production of iron and/or steel including at least 85% iron by weight and at least 1% fixed carbon by weight, and a volume of between 7.5 cm.sup.3 and 30 cm.sup.3, wherein the briquette has, prior to reduction (i.e. as a ‘green’ briquette), the above composition.