In Situ Synchrotron Powder Diffraction Studies of Reduction–Oxidation (Redox) Behavior of Iron Ores and Ilmenite

Phase transformations of two types of iron-based oxides (iron ore and industrial-grade ilmenite) were studied using synchrotron powder diffraction of the samples processed in reducing and oxidizing atmospheres at 1173 K (900 °C) and 1223 K (950 °C), respectively. In iron ore oxidation, the disappearance of the wustite and fayalite phases was followed by hematite growth and a decrease of the magnetite phase. The magnetite phase was partially recovered by treatment in a reducing atmosphere. Ilmenite oxidation initiated decomposition of the ilmenite phase with rapid growth of hematite and gradual growth of the pseudobrookite phase. In a reducing atmosphere, ilmenite was gradually recovered from pseudobrookite with a relatively fast initial decrease in rutile and hematite content. Under reducing conditions, there was interaction of iron ore with magnesio-ferrites in iron ore–ash mixture and interaction of ilmenite with silica by the formation of fayalite.