Overview
This project addresses the techno-economic costs, benefits and constraints of thermal comminution/beneficiation technologies for low-grade iron ores (such as goethitic ores) to inform investment options and opportunities for the supply of high-grade iron ore.
Project Details
The project will increase understanding of the value proposition of novel radiant thermal comminution/beneficiation technologies based on high heating fluxes and rates for both ore quality upgrading and crushing energy reduction, relative to other options derived from a review of current state-of-the-art comminution technologies. For selected low-grade iron ores, a preliminary assessment of the impact of thermal pre-treatment under high heating rate operations on both crushability and potential chemical-physical changes of the ores will be performed.
Identified Pathways
Decarbonise production of green iron products from magnetite ores
Outcomes
The data obtained will be implemented into first-order analysis of comminution/beneficiation processes and their techno-economic performance to identify the preferred low-carbon options. This will account for the source of energy, compare comminution costs with state-of-the-art processes and generate new knowledge to support subsequent plans for upscaling, including a timeline for technology development. It is anticipated that the activities will lead to at least two scientific journal papers reporting the key results from the above work.