Eco-friendly steelmaking: Exploring the potential of plant-based binder Acacia gum for iron ore pelletizing

In the pelletizing process, a crucial stage in the iron and steel production industry, binders play a significant role. Bentonite, the conventional binder in iron pellet production, contains impurities that can be transferred to the final product, reducing its quality. In recent years, researchers h...

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Main Authors: Hassan Koohestani, Jalal Hasanpoor, Behrooz Ghasemi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666016425000179
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author Hassan Koohestani
Jalal Hasanpoor
Behrooz Ghasemi
author_facet Hassan Koohestani
Jalal Hasanpoor
Behrooz Ghasemi
author_sort Hassan Koohestani
collection DOAJ
description In the pelletizing process, a crucial stage in the iron and steel production industry, binders play a significant role. Bentonite, the conventional binder in iron pellet production, contains impurities that can be transferred to the final product, reducing its quality. In recent years, researchers have been seeking suitable substitutes for bentonite. In this research, the effect of Acacia gum (gum arabic) as an organic binder in the pelletizing process has been investigated, and the results have been compared with pellets produced using bentonite. Accordingly, different magnetite pellets were made under various binders and thermal conditions. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that magnetite was converted to hematite during the calcination process at 1100 °C. In the XRD pattern of samples containing Acacia gum, hematite phase peaks were observed, and no significant impurities were identified. Based on the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results, the organic binder was completely decomposed at 300 °C, and at 900 °C, the binder was completely removed from the pellet. In this case, the pellets' strength was due to the particles' sintering. Investigation of the mechanical properties of the pellets showed that pellets containing 2 % bentonite +3 % Acacia gum with compressive strength and dropping number 1.380 kN/pellet and 4.1, respectively, could provide the necessary properties.
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spelling doaj-art-f12d19f97dc24f6aa45b516313f17da22025-01-30T05:14:57ZengElsevierCase Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering2666-01642025-06-0111101110Eco-friendly steelmaking: Exploring the potential of plant-based binder Acacia gum for iron ore pelletizingHassan Koohestani0Jalal Hasanpoor1Behrooz Ghasemi2Corresponding author.; Faculty of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, IranFaculty of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, IranFaculty of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, IranIn the pelletizing process, a crucial stage in the iron and steel production industry, binders play a significant role. Bentonite, the conventional binder in iron pellet production, contains impurities that can be transferred to the final product, reducing its quality. In recent years, researchers have been seeking suitable substitutes for bentonite. In this research, the effect of Acacia gum (gum arabic) as an organic binder in the pelletizing process has been investigated, and the results have been compared with pellets produced using bentonite. Accordingly, different magnetite pellets were made under various binders and thermal conditions. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that magnetite was converted to hematite during the calcination process at 1100 °C. In the XRD pattern of samples containing Acacia gum, hematite phase peaks were observed, and no significant impurities were identified. Based on the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results, the organic binder was completely decomposed at 300 °C, and at 900 °C, the binder was completely removed from the pellet. In this case, the pellets' strength was due to the particles' sintering. Investigation of the mechanical properties of the pellets showed that pellets containing 2 % bentonite +3 % Acacia gum with compressive strength and dropping number 1.380 kN/pellet and 4.1, respectively, could provide the necessary properties.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666016425000179Green steelPelletizingGreen pelletsAcacia gumArabic gumBriquette
spellingShingle Hassan Koohestani
Jalal Hasanpoor
Behrooz Ghasemi
Eco-friendly steelmaking: Exploring the potential of plant-based binder Acacia gum for iron ore pelletizing
Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Green steel
Pelletizing
Green pellets
Acacia gum
Arabic gum
Briquette
title Eco-friendly steelmaking: Exploring the potential of plant-based binder Acacia gum for iron ore pelletizing
title_full Eco-friendly steelmaking: Exploring the potential of plant-based binder Acacia gum for iron ore pelletizing
title_fullStr Eco-friendly steelmaking: Exploring the potential of plant-based binder Acacia gum for iron ore pelletizing
title_full_unstemmed Eco-friendly steelmaking: Exploring the potential of plant-based binder Acacia gum for iron ore pelletizing
title_short Eco-friendly steelmaking: Exploring the potential of plant-based binder Acacia gum for iron ore pelletizing
title_sort eco friendly steelmaking exploring the potential of plant based binder acacia gum for iron ore pelletizing
topic Green steel
Pelletizing
Green pellets
Acacia gum
Arabic gum
Briquette
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666016425000179
work_keys_str_mv AT hassankoohestani ecofriendlysteelmakingexploringthepotentialofplantbasedbinderacaciagumforironorepelletizing
AT jalalhasanpoor ecofriendlysteelmakingexploringthepotentialofplantbasedbinderacaciagumforironorepelletizing
AT behroozghasemi ecofriendlysteelmakingexploringthepotentialofplantbasedbinderacaciagumforironorepelletizing