Modern Dewatering Technologies in Fine Iron Ore

Application

Pekka Natri and Guido Görres

*Area Sales Manager Manager, **Business Manager, Mining & Metallurgy,
Larox Corporation Larox Corporation

ABSTRACT: Conventional vacuum filtration methods have been the most prevailing in fine iron
ore dewatering. Product quality needs, lower ore grades, complex mineralogy and energy costs
have resulted the iron ore producers to search better solutions for dewatering of pelletizing feed.
New advanced filtration methods have been introduced to the market. This paper describes, how
these modern methods are answering the needs of the industry. Performance of the advanced
dewatering technologies (pressure filtration and ceramic capillary action filtration) for iron ore
applications have been studied. Findings base on both the industrial and pilot scale experiences on
different cases. The results show, that the cake moisture of iron ore pelletizing feed can be
optimised more effectively by using the modern filtration technologies. By selecting the most
suitable and adjustable equipment the effects of the variations of feed material to the following
processes can be minimised and the possibilities to process more difficult raw materials to high
quality pellets are better.
As the demand of iron ore has been increased dramatically in the last years modern solutions for iron
ore dewatering needs to be reliable mechanically as well as process wise and cost effective. For
different iron ore applications different dewatering solutions are available.
Larox Cooperation develops, designs and manufactures industrial filters and is a leading technology
company in its field. Larox is a full service solution provider in filtration for separating solids from
liquids. Comprehensive aftermarket services throughout the lifespan of the Larox solution form an
essential part of our operations. Companies in mining and metallurgy, chemical processing and related
industries benefit from our high-performance, high-efficiency process solutions, technologies and
products.
We provide our clients with an unrivalled combination of process expertise and service. We deliver
complete solutions, which exceed the goals for product quality, yield, value and consistency. We help
our clients to simplify their production processes, improve the profitability of the processes and help to
save energy in an environmentally friendly way. All solutions are designed for application-specific
needs to meet all process performance requirements of clients and their customers.
Larox technologies include automatic pressure filters, horizontal vacuum belt filters, vacuum disc and
drum filters, filter presses, polishing filters and ceramic disc filters. In addition to Larox our major
product names are Ceramec, Hoesch, Pannevis and Scheibler. Most of the product names have served
the markets for several decades, and all of them are supported by Larox aftermarket services.
For different Iron Ore application we serve our customers with solutions of vacuum and pressure
filtration. Fine iron ore is used for pelletizing feed and demands stable capacity, constant moisture
(target is between 8 – 9 w/w% +/- 0,5) as well as low operation costs. Beside the well known and
mostly used vacuum disc filters Larox provides reliable and low operation cost filtration solutions with
large filtration areas for high capacity and stable moisture.
For the rising demand of iron ore in the world and growing pelletizing market Larox developes daily
their well known tower pressure filters, optimised fast filter presses and the ceramec capillary action filter.
One of those remarkable development is the ceramec capillary action filters. This technology guarantees a
stable capacity as well as good moisture results with low operation costs, easy maintenance and
monitoring. The different accessible ranges of this filters serves the needs of the industry.