Binder composition for briquetting and/or pelletization of iron or aluminum ore fines and iron or aluminum ore residues and methods thereof

Abstract

An iron or aluminum-ore based composite and method of preparing the composite by (a) contacting a plurality of iron or aluminum ore particles with at least one water-soluble binding polymer to form an agglomeration, and (b) forming a composite.

1 . An iron or aluminum-ore based composite, the composite comprising:
 i) a plurality of iron or aluminum ore particles, said iron or aluminum ore particles comprising iron or aluminum ore fines and/or iron or aluminum ore residues; and   ii) at least one water-soluble polymer, said polymer being either a liquid or a solid, wherein said polymer is prepared by polymerizing (i) at least one anionic monomer (a) selected from acrylic acid, a salt of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, a salt of methacrylic acid, and/or combinations thereof, and (ii) an acrylamide of formula:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein a molecular weight of the polymer is between 14×10 6  and 18×10 6  Daltons; and wherein m and n independently represent a number between 150,000 and 250,000. 
     
     
         2 . The composite according to  claim 1 , wherein said composite comprises a moisture content of less than about 15% wt. relative to the total weight of the composite. 
     
     
         3 . The composite according to  claim 1 , wherein said composite is in the form of a pellet or in the form of a briquette. 
     
     
         4 . The composite according to  claim 1 , wherein said composite does not comprise molasses, starch, and/or starch derivatives. 
     
     
         5 . The composite according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer (i) is not neutralized, or (ii) is totally or partially neutralized. 
     
     
         6 . The composite according to  claim 5 , wherein said totally or partially neutralized polymer is neutralized by NaOH, KOH, ammonium derivatives, ammonia, amino-alkali substances, and/or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The composite according to  claim 6 , wherein said amino-alkali substances comprise triethanolamine or 2-amino-2-methyl-propanol (AMP). 
     
     
         8 . A method of preparing an iron or aluminum-ore based composite according to  one of the preceding claims , said method comprising:
 (a) contacting a plurality of iron or aluminum ore particles with at least one water-soluble binding polymer according to  one of the preceding claims , to form an agglomeration; and   (b) forming a composite.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein contacting said plurality of iron or aluminum ore particles with said binding polymer does not increase the amount of phosphorus present in said composite. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein contacting said plurality of iron or aluminum ore particles with said binding polymer does not increase the amount of silicon present in said composite. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said forming a composite comprises feeding the agglomeration into a mixer and press to form a plurality of briquettes and/or pellets. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said forming a composite is carried out in the absence of molasses, starch, and/or starch derivatives. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said composite comprises a moisture content of less than about 15% wt. relative to the total weight of the composite.