Tutorial 4
Tutorial 4
Qn.1
Limestone mixed with coke is being burnt in a kiln. An average analysis of the limestone is
CaCO3 84.5%, MgCO3 11.5% and the rest are inerts. The coke contains 76% C, 21% ash and
3% moisture. The calcinations of CaCO3 and MgCO3 are 95% and 90% complete respectively.
The C in coke is completely burnt to carbon dioxide. The kiln is fed with 1 kg of coke per 5kg
of limestone. Calculate the weight percent of each product leaving the kiln. Assume that the
moisture in the feed is completely vaporized.
Qn. 2
Qn. 3
a) “The control of sulphur in iron is the prime consideration in the fixation of slag
basicity.” Explain.
b) A sinter of iron ore consisting mainly of heamatite is charged into the blast
furnace.
Give a full description of the reactions that take place in each zone as well as the
operating conditions in each zone.
Qn. 4
a) Calculate the raw material rates/100 kg sinter produced, given the following data;
(i) sinter basicity = 1.5
(ii) FeO in sinter = 8 %
(iii) coke/fuel rate = 9 kg/100 kg of sinter
(iv) iron ore = heamatite concentrates
(v) fluxing reagents = limestone (CaCO3)
(vi) 10 % of the fuel is SiO2 and 5% is Al2O3
Qn. 5
a) What is the difference between super-fluxed and self-fluxing sinter?
b) Compare and contrast the steelmaking processes BOF and EAF.
c) The formation of slag is an integral part of the iron smelting process. Clearly outline the
chemistry of slag formation.
d) One of the essential characteristics of iron ore charged into the blast furnace is its
size and size distribution. Explain why this is important?
e) (i) What is the difference between pig iron and sponge iron?
(ii) What is the purpose of flux material in blast furnace iron making?
Qn. 6
a) Sintering is one of the methods that is used for agglomeration of fine iron ore particles
before charging into the furnace. With the aid of a diagram describe the different zones that
are established midway through the sintering process.
b) Compare and contrast the flash furnace and the submerged tuyere copper making
processes.
c) Flash smelting accounts for over 50% of copper matte smelting. Give a detailed
description of the operation of the OUTOKUMPU flash furnace. The description should
include;
(i) Clearly labeled diagram of the furnace.
(ii) Detailed description of the process operation
(iii) Reactions
(iv) Products
d) Blast furnace iron-making is the traditional technology that has been in use for a very long
time, however alternative technologies have been developed to counter some of the
challenges experienced with Blast furnace iron-making.
(i) Identify three of these challenges and highlight how they affect continued use of the Blast
furnace as an iron making process.
(ii) Give a detailed description of an alternative iron-making technology that you would
recommend for the Zimbabwean Iron and Steel Industry. Your description should include
raw materials, reactions and products.
Qn. 7
a) South African platinum producers are facing challenges regarding platinum ores mined
from the UG2 reef. Researchers have conducted tests and have proposed a new
technology, the Con Roast, which can be used to treat ores from the UG2 reef.
What technical challenges will this new technology solve?
b) Xstrata’s Premus process is one of the most technologically advanced and competitive
processes used today in the production of ferrochrome. With the aid of a flow sheet give a
detailed description of the process.
c) Zinc extraction from the ZnS roasting product is normally conducted in vertical retorts,
with reference to the chemistry of Zn, justify the use of vertical retorts for metal extraction.
Qn. 8
a) Converting of molten Cu-Fe-S matte is normally conducted in a Peirce-Smith converter.
With the aid of a diagram give a detailed description of the batch converting process.
b) Describe the extraction of zinc and lead in an Imperial Smelting furnace.