The Impact of Mineralogy on the Pelletization Performance of Indian Chromite Overburden

The demand for stainless steel, driven by urbanization and growth in the automotive, construction, and appliance sectors, has increased the need for nickel. Essential for its strength and corrosion resistance, nickel makes up over 60–70% of stainless steel. Due to limited domestic supply, India imports all its nickel, classifying it as a “Critical Mineral.” This study aims to extract nickel from chromite overburden in Odisha's Sukinda Valley, located in the eastern part of India, through pelletization. Two samples were analyzed: one high in iron and nickel and the other moderate in both but high in silica. The research optimized pelletizing conditions by examining basicity, binder content, and induration cycles. Characterizing the feed material revealed that its mineralogy significantly influences pellet quality. Thermodynamic analyses helped optimize parameters, resulting in strong pellets suitable for direct reduced iron (DRI) production with a metallization rate of approximately 90%. These pellets could effectively produce nickel-based alloys.