The study of sunflower seed husks as a fuel in the iron ore sintering process

An investigation was carried out into the use of sunflower seed husks as a supplementary fuel in the iron ore sintering process. Fuel blends were prepared by mixing different amounts of sunflower seed husks and coke in order to produce the same heat output as 5% coke breeze. Sinter pot experiments with fuels containing different amounts of sunflower seed husks and coke indicate that substituting 10% coke with sunflower seed husks did not significantly change the combustion characteristics of the sintering process or the sinter quality. The relative abundances of PCDD/Fs and PAHs obtained with the experimental sintering pot were almost identical to those of a production sinter plant, which indicates that the mechanism of formation of the organic compounds in the sintering pot were very similar. Similar values of PCDD/F I-TEQ and B[a]P-eq were obtained in the waste gas with both coke and coke with 10% coke substitution with biomass, although sintering with biomass substitution resulted in slightly higher concentrations of 2,3,7,8-tetraCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-pentaCDF and OCDD. The emission profile of targeted PAHs was also altered to a limited extent, particularly with regard to concentrations of fluorene, phenanthrene and anthracene. Overall the results suggest that it is feasible to substitute 10% coke breeze with biomass in the iron ore sintering process.