Investigation into Biomass Tar-Based Carbon Deposits as Reduction Agents on Iron Ore Using the Tar Impregnation Method

Increasing carbon deposits in iron ore to upgrade the reduction rate can be performed by impregnating iron ore in tar. Carbon containing iron ore was prepared from low-grade iron ore and biomass tar, which was generated from palm kernel shell (PKS) pyrolysis using the impregnation method. The optimum condition of the method was investigated by varying the tar-iron ore ratio (1 and 1.5) and impregnation time (0 and 24 h). After the carbonization of the tar–iron ore mixture in a flow-type quartz tubular fixed-bed reactor at 500 °C for an hour, the carbon deposits adhered well to surfaces of all iron ore samples. The carbon deposits increased when the ratio of tar-iron ore was enhanced. The effect of impregnation time on the formed carbon deposit only applied to the tar-iron ore ratio of 1, but it had a weak effect on the ratio of 1.5. The highest carbon content was obtained from the impregnation of a biomass tar–iron ore mixture with the ratio of 1.5 which was directly carbonized. In addition, the high water content of biomass tar affected the reformation of FeOOH at the impregnation within 24 h. Furthermore, the reduction reactivity of the obtained carbonized ore, which was observed using thermogravimetric analysis, was perceptible. The carbon deposits on iron ore were able to demote total weight loss up to 23%, compared to 8% of the dehydrated ore, during the heating process to 950 °C. The carbon content obtained from iron ore impregnation with biomass tar can act as reduction agents, thereby enhancing the reduction reactivity.